President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the government is still working on an improved policy on online gambling, emphasizing that the real issue lies in gambling addiction and its social impact, not the activity itself.
In his recent BBM Podcast, Marcos acknowledged growing calls from lawmakers and advocacy groups for tougher measures on online gambling due to concerns about addiction and financial ruin, particularly among the youth.
“We still have to form the policy on what we are going to do about online gambling,” Marcos said. “To this end, I have already started to convene a conference of all stakeholders, from the Church, parents, regulators, because the victimized demographic is the youth.”
The consultation process, he said, will involve the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, clergy members, parents’ groups, and government regulators tasked with enforcing any new rules.
President Marcos cautioned that a total ban could push online gambling underground, making it harder for authorities to monitor and regulate. “The first effect of banning it fully is to put it underground, and then we have no control,” he said.
Drawing a parallel to the debate on the now defunct Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Marcos said licensed operations were not the core issue, but the illegal activities tied to some operators.
“The POGO itself was not the problem… But it was accompanied by human trafficking, credit card scams, all sorts of things happening, right?” he said.
For online gambling, he said the main concerns are underage participation and gambling addiction. “The problem is not online gambling. The problems are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling,” Marcos noted.
The President added that his administration’s priority is to protect financially vulnerable individuals and prevent minors from engaging in gambling, with a comprehensive plan in progress after broad consultations with all sectors.
