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Globe Telecom said over the weekend it blocked 1,345 illegal gambling websites in the first quarter of 2024, a massive 967-percent increase from the same period last year.

The company said of the total, 260 sites were blocked in January, 855 in February and 230 in March.

Globe said that through a combination of network-level blocking measures and the deployment of content filtering systems, it is fighting to keep its customers safe from the harmful effects of online gambling operations.

“Illegal online gambling can have devastating financial and social consequences, fueling problematic gambling behavior and exposing users to potential fraud, malware and cybercrime,” said Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio.

“We have an ethical obligation to make the internet safer and are continuing our relentless push to identify and prevent access to these unlawful sites on our network,” Bonifacio said.

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Globe said it saw increased illegal gambling sites blocked, from only 52 sites barred when it started in 2021, to 396 in 2022 and 4,237 in 2023.

The government earlier warned the public against illegal online gambling sites as these are hotbeds of scams, including credit card fraud and identity theft. It said the public should only use licensed online-based games.

Globe has invested over $2.7 million for an advanced content filtering infrastructure capable of detecting and restricting websites and imagery that promote not just online gambling but also child pornography and online piracy.

This forms a key pillar of the company’s aggressive Make It Safe PH program to foster a secure online environment.

Make It Safe PH was launched in 2017 to educate consumers about pervasive online risks like illegal gambling and how they can protect themselves.

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