Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan on Tuesday sounded the alarm over the explosive spread of online gambling via mobile phones in the Philippines, describing it as a “hidden scourge” that is draining family resources, ensnaring the youth, and corroding the moral foundations of Filipino society.
“Mobile gambling has quietly turned smartphones into digital betting machines. This is no longer just a tech issue—it’s a moral emergency. Our laws must evolve swiftly before this invisible threat tears more Filipino households apart,” Libanan said in a statement.
“We are preparing urgent proposals to clamp down on mobile-based gambling platforms, especially those targeting Filipinos through social media, paid influencers, and algorithm-driven advertising,” the 4Ps lawmaker added.
Libanan cited growing anecdotal reports and personal appeals from families devastated by loved ones who gambled away tuition money, life savings, and even borrowed funds chasing false hopes of easy winnings.
“Online gambling is being sold to Filipinos as casual fun. But behind the flashy graphics is a digital vice preying on the desperate—the poor, the unemployed, and the young are especially at risk,” he pointed out.
Libanan also called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to enforce tighter controls and roll out sustained public education campaigns on the dangers of mobile gambling.
