Senator Sherwin Gatchalian announced Tuesday that he will push for tighter regulations on online gambling, warning that rising addiction is fueling social and moral decay in the Philippines.
The senator is proposing to raise the minimum cash-in requirement to ₱10,000 and a ₱5,000 minimum for account top-ups to deter compulsive gambling on digital platforms.
The bill would also raise the legal gambling age from 18 to 21, aiming to shield younger Filipinos from early exposure to addictive gaming behavior.
“Due to its accessibility, online gambling activities have magnified the dangers from gambling and have been linked to the erosion of our moral fibers, as it has caused an increase in mental health problems, financial problems, addictive behavior, vices, and crime rates,” he said.
The senator pointed to the case of 34 missing e-sabong players allegedly dumped in Taal Lake, linking their disappearance to unregulated online betting activities.
To address these issues, the proposed legislation includes provisions to combat illegal online gambling and penalize those behind unauthorized operations.
The measure also bans gambling sponsorships in public events and prohibits campaign donations from gaming entities.
Under the bill, regulatory bodies would be required to allocate part of the fees collected from licensed operators to fund rehabilitation centers for gambling addicts.
Platforms like GCash would also be prohibited from facilitating gambling transactions, further limiting easy access to betting services.
“Many families have seen their futures destroyed because of online gambling, which has been made even more accessible by e-wallets,” Gatchalian said.
In June, travel vlogger BecomingFilipino, also known as Kyle Jennermann, posted on Facebook his experience while seated behind a driver in his late 50s.
Jennermann observed the man repeatedly loading ₱50 into his GCash account and gambling on Bingo Plus during every stop, quickly losing his earnings before topping up again.
“Sad to think, he easily blew all his earnings for work in the day…in minutes. It was one of the most depressing rides I have ever had,” he said.
The online personality said the heartbreaking experience illustrates how online gambling has become deeply embedded in Filipino daily life, calling on GCash to disconnect from gambling platforms and warning that the ease of access is turning everyday moments, like a simple jeepney ride, into cautionary tales of silent financial collapse.
