State regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is being challenged—again—over its right to issue licenses to Philippine-based online gambling operators serving international betting customers.

This time, it’s a lawmaker who’s doubting the regulator’s authority.

Last Tuesday, Sen. Francis Escudero questioned PAGCOR’s authority over Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator (POGO) licenses on grounds that the regulator’s charter was enacted before the advent of online platforms for gaming, news outlet Interaksyon reported.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee was investigating the PHP50 million (USD1 million) bribery scandal involving gambling operator Jack Lam when Escudero pointed out that there had been attempts in the past years “to find legal means to rein in online gambling, to no avail.”