Top lawmakers on Tuesday called for tougher actions against online gambling, pushing for a total ban or tighter regulations amid growing concern over its destructive impact on Filipino families, especially the youth.
Senator Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri warned that taxation alone will not address the harmful effects of online gambling in the Philippines, following the Department of Finance’s proposed new taxes and regulations aimed at limiting access to digital gambling platforms.
“Are the social ills worth it? It’s eating the masses. What’s worse is that so many children are playing. No matter what they say, you really can get in. It’s so accessible as long as you have GCash,” he said during an interview.
Zubiri argued that taxing gambling has proven ineffective, citing the case of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which remained problematic despite being taxed.
On Monday, the senator filed a bill seeking an outright prohibition of all forms of online gambling, including mobile apps, websites, and digital platforms that allow electronic wagering.
Senator Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito also raised concerns over the growing accessibility of online gambling, calling it a worsening social crisis.
He said the impact of online gambling is more severe than that of POGOs because it directly targets Filipinos, including workers, parents, and young people.
“In times of crisis, people are deceived by promises of instant money. But in return, they face debt, shame, and the destruction of their families,” he lamented.
Ejercito warned that smartphones now offer round-the-clock access to gambling platforms, making it easier for individuals to become addicted.
“In online gambling, it is our fellow Filipinos who are affected: workers, parents, even the youth. It’s worse because we ourselves are the ones slowly being destroyed,” he said.
The senator urged the National Telecommunications Commission to allow families to request the blocking of gambling sites in efforts to shield vulnerable loved ones.
Ejercito noted that some gambling applications are disguised within entertainment apps, increasing the risk of exposure to minors.
He also proposed banning e-wallet services that enable online betting, arguing that easy access contributes to addiction, especially during economic hardship.
Senator Risa Hontiveros echoed these concerns and filed a bill that would prohibit online gambling access through e-wallets and super apps.
Hontiveros said smartphones have effectively become digital casinos, making gambling too accessible for ordinary Filipinos.
“Countless Filipinos have sunk into overwhelming debt because of e-gambling, which has been made even easier by e-wallets. For some, it cost them their lives, all it took was a single tap,” she said.
The Senate bill that Hontiveros filed would also prohibit individuals under 21 from accessing online gambling platforms.
The proposed measure bans gambling advertisements in public areas, traditional media, and social media to prevent glamorizing the vice.
It mandates the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to set betting and loss limits per user, with account suspensions triggered upon reaching those caps.
“Because there are no limits on gambling today, it has led to unlimited betting that often results in unlimited waste. It also brings unlimited debt and endless problems to our people, which is why spending must be controlled,” Hontiveros said.
The proposed law also imposes a minimum 10 percent tax on gross online gambling revenue, with the proceeds going to addiction treatment, public awareness campaigns, monitoring, and research.
She called on fellow senators to support the legislation and respond to growing public demand for tighter online gambling regulations.
Hontiveros said the goal is to prevent further harm and help Filipinos already suffering from gambling addiction to recover.
A counterpart bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Akbayan lawmakers and Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene ‘Kaka’ Bag-ao.
