By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not act in haste on the growing calls to impose a total ban on online gambling, as he sees the need for a thorough study on the potential impact of the proposal on the country, Malacañang said on Friday.
This was after some lawmakers expressed disappointment over Marcos’ alleged failure to discuss the issue of online gaming during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cited the need to determine the root of the online gambling addiction problem.
“Dapat muna po malaman natin saan ba nanggagaling yung kamalian. Doon ba sa license, online gambling app o doon sa mga hindi lisensyado. So, dapat malaman natin kung saan ba nagugumon ang ating mga kababayan sa sugal, doon ba sa mga illegal na gambling app,” Castro said.
Calls to regulate online gambling are mounting, amid concerns over the rise in Filipinos getting hooked on gaming sites.
Castro said the possible impact of the proposal on the Philippine economy must also be taken into consideration.
“Dapat ito, araling mabuti, ano ba ang dapat gawin dahil pagka nga tinanggal natin agad-agad ang online gambling at maapektuhan ang ibang mga lisensyado, makakaapekto ba ito sa tulong sa bayan, sa tulong sa mga estudyante, sa tulong sa mga Pilipino,” she said.
“So, hindi po puwedeng magpadalos-dalos ang Pangulo dito. Dapat aralin po dahil sa totoo lamang po ang mga revenue po na binibigay ng mga lisensiyadong online gambling ay nakakabigay ng tulong sa mga mamamayan.”
Gross gaming revenue reached P410 billion in 2024, with e-games and e-bingo generating P154.41 billion or a 165% year-on-year increase, data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) showed.
PAGCOR has already ordered the immediate dismantling of all billboards and out-of-home (OOH) gambling advertisements in its intensified efforts to regulate gambling-related promotions in public spaces.
It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) for the regulation and pre-screening of gambling-related advertisements across all media platforms.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has also directed social media influencers to take down content promoting illegal online gaming platforms.
To date, the DICT has already taken down around 7,000 unauthorized online gaming sites identified by PAGCOR.
