Aside from drugs, government also needs to deal with illegal gambling. In my investigative journalism class last year, two students investigated the proliferation of illegal betting centers in Talisay City.
The betting centers serve as the “masiao” version of the legitimate suertres of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The illegal betting centers look closely similar to the legitimate betting centers of PCSO that use computers, cash registers and even issue receipt to bettors.
Based on my student’s investigation, the illegal betting stalls operate in Barangays Dumlog, San Isidro, Poblacion and Tangke and carry the signage Crystal, Taurus, Mercury 2 and Pioneer.
This year another student journalist is investigating a similar activity in Mandaue City. Like its counterpart in Talisay City, the illegal betting center is computerized and issues receipts that will be used by the bettor in claiming the prize.
What is alarming in Mandaue City is that the operation of the illegal betting station is done in tandem with a program in a community radio station whose signal reaches only within the city.
The radio station anchor reportedly entices listeners to call in order to get a number combination. The number combination is given off air with the arrangement that if the bettor wins, he will give a share to the anchor.
It is not sure whether the operation of the community radio station is sanctioned by the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC).
These illegal betting stations use the result of the legitimate suertres draw of PCSO as the basis of their operation. Bettors prefer to place their bets on the illegal gambling operators because it yields bigger prize in case they win.
Business is brisk because there are three draws every day where bettors can choose what draw they will place their bet on.
The business model is not something new because this is the same way “jai-alai masiao” was operated. Masiao also used the results of the legitimate fronton game where a 25 centavo bet would win P100.
What is alarming in the present setup is the daring, brazen and aggressive business strategy of the new players where they put up a physical betting station which is in very sharp contrast with the underground operation of masiao where betting solicitation is hidden from view.
It does not need a social scientist to draw a conclusion that the operation of the illegal betting centers is well backed or may be operated by a syndicate similar to the operation of the illegal drugs trade that is already deeply entrenched in our society.
This could have been the reason why authorities have failed to stop the illegal operation.
It would not take much of the police’s time to close and dismantle these illegal betting centers, considering that it is in plain view of the public and to bust them is as easy as buying menthol candy from a sari-sari store.
It is hard to believe that the police don’t know about these illegal betting centers. Besides, what are their intelligence operatives for?
I hope that the police would not wait for President Rody Duterte to give another directive that would include illegal gambling in their Oplan TokHang, of course minus the dead bodies of unyielding operators.
I also hope the NTC will look into the operation of some mass media channels being used in various illegal business operations.
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