WEEKS AFTER online gambling platforms were discovered to be accessible through several Wi-Fi networks in UST, the majority of those platforms now appear to have been blocked.
Following its report on the broad accessibility of gambling websites on campus, The Flame conducted a second round of testing of the same 12 platforms accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Oct. 29.
They included CasinoPlus, BingoPlus, Ggpanalo, GamePH, Playtime PH, Piso Game, JUANPLUS, Solaire Online Casino, Megaperya PH, Go Play Asia, ArenaPlus and Bet88.
Upon testing, only JUANPLUS and Solaire Online Casino remain active on the networks “VERITAS,” UST’s main Wi-Fi connection for students; “Faculty of Arts and Letters,” which covers the St. Raymund de Peñafort and Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BGPOP) buildings; the university-wide “Faculty Casting;” “Communications Bureau,” also at BGPOP and “Miguel de Benavides Library.”
Heightened restrictions were most evident with the “VERITAS” network, as it previously allowed entry to all 12 tested sites.
Meanwhile, the “Faculty of Arts and Letters” Wi-Fi appears to have banned seven more platforms, with CasinoPlus, BingoPlus, Ggpanalo, GamePH, Playtime PH, Megaperya PH and Go Play Asia no longer accessible through the network.
“Miguel de Benavides Library” Wi-Fi, seems to have prohibited five gaming sites, namely, Ggpanalo, Playtime PH, Piso Game, Megaperya PH and ArenaPlus.
The “Faculty Casting” Wi-Fi and the Communications Bureau’s password-protected networks appear to have filters against gambling sites already, as they initially permitted entry to four out of 12 platforms.
As of re-checking, Piso Game and ArenaPlus are no longer permitted through the Faculty Casting Wi-Fi, while the “Communications Bureau” network has since removed access to Ggpanalo, ArenaPlus and Bet88. However, the widely accessible Solaire Online Casino, which was among the blocked sites at the Communication Bureau, is now reachable through its network.
The Plaza Mayor Wi-Fi, initially found to be allowing access to JUANPLUS, Solaire Online Casino, Megaperya PH and ArenaPlus, was not detected during the second test.
The Flame has reached out to the Office of Information and Communications Technology and the Santo Tomas e-Service Providers to confirm if the University has updated its website filtering policies, but has yet to receive a response.
In a previous interview with The Flame, Office for Student Affairs chief Asst. Prof. Jaezamie Ong said there had been discussions to tighten restrictions on gambling sites.
Ong explained that since gaming platforms can consume data shared by thousands of Thomasians, the lack of regulations might cause difficulties among users who use the Wi-Fi access for their studies.
Some students have raised concerns over the supposed inconsistent filtering standards.
They pointed out that several online games, such as Mobile Legends, Call of Duty, Genshin Impact and Roblox remain blocked on the tested networks, but Mobile Legends can still be played using the Library’s Wi-Fi.
Last month, gaming regulator PAGCOR reported a 49% decline in revenue, citing the recent controversy surrounding online gambling and the disconnection of gaming platforms from popular e-wallet providers.
The government has intensified efforts against unlicensed gaming operators, with the National Telecommunications Commission blocking over 12,500 illegal gambling websites. F ― with reports from Anna Victoria Asuncion
