A new study shows many Filipino online gambling players are unaware of the risks of playing on unregulated platforms, leaving them exposed to dangers such as financial losses, privacy concerns and underage participation.
The study, by the Filipino sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall, surveyed hundreds of current online gamblers from urban areas across Mega Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. All of them had experience playing on unregulated platforms.
According to the study, about 55 percent of players admitted they were unaware of the legal risks tied to these sites, while another 33 percent said they knew “a little.” Only 12 percent said they found the rules clear, highlighting a significant knowledge gap.
This limited awareness contributes to a lack of trust, the study said.
Thirty-nine percent of players expressed skepticism about the fairness of the platforms, compared with just 27 percent who felt confident. Another 28 percent remained neutral, reflecting general uncertainty. The findings mirrored players’ overall sentiments, with 32 percent remaining undecided or neutral and 27 percent reporting feeling more uneasy than confident.
The Fourth Wall Research director John Brylle Bae said that player behavior is primarily driven by personal perceptions and experiences rather than a platform’s features.
“Our study reveals confidence, fairness, and profitability matter more than platform features such as betting limits or affiliate programs,” Bae said.
“This explains why players, despite the uncertainty and uneasiness, continue to engage with these platforms as long as they perceive a chance to win,” Bae said.
The study found that players on unregulated platforms played more heavily, with 41 percent playing two to three times a week and nearly a third playing four or more times a week. They also placed higher bets, from P100 to P499 and occasionally up to P1,000.
These high-risk habits often led to greater losses, with 41 percent of players reporting they stopped due to financial losses, the study said.
The majority of players on unregulated platforms are 26 to 45 years old, come from lower-income brackets and see gambling as a form of casual leisure.
The study categorized players based on their exposure to risk. The majority (44 percent of respondents) were profiled as “high-stakes losers,” or individuals who played exclusively on unregulated platforms and frequently placed high bets.
Meanwhile, 28 percent of players surveyed were classified as “perceived winners,” those who played on unregulated sites with frequent medium bets and whose perceived wins outweighed losses. About 17 percent were “casual break-even players,” who prioritized low-risk entertainment, and 11 percent were “regulated converts,” individuals who played on both regulated and unregulated sites but tended to play regulated more frequently.
Among those surveyed, about 32 percent preferred Bingo Plus as their regulated site, while JiliBet was the most frequently accessed unregulated platform at 28 percent.
Players cited greater game variety, faster transactions, convenient payment options and more frequent promotions as reasons for choosing unregulated platforms. However, factors such as trust and reputation played a smaller role in their decision-making.
The study further revealed that these sites lacked crucial safeguards. About 65 percent of players did not recall seeing any fairness certifications on unregulated platforms, and nearly one in five admitted they did not actively look for them. More than 90 percent of players reported being able to join with little to no verification, and 80 percent reported no betting limits.
“Trust, not legality, drives player behavior and highlights how building confidence can shape their choices,” Bae said.
Bae said clearer communication about protections, transparency and user rights may encourage players to prefer regulated environments.
