The crypto gaming industry is booming, especially with the introduction of Play-to-Earn (P2E) blockchain-based games, and the Philippine government is concerned about children’s increasing game addiction. In light of this, a lawmaker has introduced a new bill proposing to regulate the gaming industry to combat children’s growing addictions.
Because the gaming industry attracts users looking for ways to make extra money, the Philippine government has been making efforts to enact legislation to regulate the industry. However, none of the proposed bills have been passed into law.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, also known as “Win,” is the most recent legislator to call for legislation to regulate the gaming industry. In November, Sherwin introduced a new gaming industry regulation bill, which was heavily criticized by national digital advocates.
During the bill’s presentation, he proposed a law to limit children’s access to video games in the Philippines.
With the passage of the proposed law, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), a quasi-judicial government body tasked with reviewing and classifying movies and television programs in the Philippines, will no longer allow children to play video and online games deemed “unfit for consumption.”
In the proposed law, he also stated that children would not be permitted to play “adult” games and that the government would strictly monitor and supervise the activities of gaming companies to ensure compliance with the law.
The senator, who is well-known for supporting and advocating for child education, argued in favour of the proposed bill, claiming that it will not only help kids focus more on their studies but will also reduce youth violence, which has long been linked to video game addiction.
Ronald Gustilo, a popular digital campaigner, has come out to criticize the senator on the grounds that such laws are a waste of taxpayers’ money because other international organizations, such as the Entertainment Software Rating Body (ESRB), already have an automatic content rating system that is accepted globally and is used to filter video games before gaining entry into the gaming market.
Gustilo went on to say that there is no evidence to back up the senator’s claims that video game addiction is fueling youth violence.
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