Digital Pilipinas, a private sector-led movement for tech in the country, believes that the iGaming industry is an importantcomponent of the Philippines’ digital economy, and that it needs proper support and regulation from the government and Filipinos as well.
“And what’s important is that we support it, not just regulate, but we enable it so we can optimize what it can do for our country and our people,” Digital Pilipinas’ lead convenor Amor Maclang told PhilSTAR Tech during the SiGMA Asia 2024 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City last June.
Maclang agreed that the stigma surrounding online gambling has led conversations around it to be just about regulation, and less about its “mainstreamization.”
Supporting events like the recently concluded SiGMA 2024 would help the country steer away from the direction of misusing the iGaming industry. By definition, “iGaming” is a new term that refers to “Internet Gambling,” later on renamed to “Internet Gaming,” or at present, “iGaming.”
Furthermore, Maclang said that the Philippines is “no longer isolated,” thus it needs to engage more into the global narrative.
Digital Pilipinas’ initiatives have been about roadshows to discuss the country’s digital economy and meetings with the regulators.
“I know we’re an island, but we are no longer an island. And the digital ecosystem has forced us to realize that sooner than later,” She said.
Moreover, Maclang also sees the benefit of building an ecosystem of startups.
“Because they’re very new technologies, but we also have to rise from the ground up and see how local startups can actually enrich this ecosystem.”
She advised startups to “align” themselves with like-minded organizations. This, she said, could help place all the players walking under the same light.
Due to the presence of bad actors in the iGaming industry, Maclang knows how important it is to bring unity within the community.
“The more we go out, talk about it, collaborate, listen to pitches, give input to people. I think that we could really grow the industry,” Maclang said.
