Marcos Jr. Urged to Weigh Online Gambling Ban Carefully Amid Calls for Regulation and Concerns Over Addiction

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is taking a deliberate approach toward mounting calls for a total ban on online gambling, with Malacañang emphasizing the need for in-depth research into the potential implications of such a move. The President’s cautious stance comes after criticism from lawmakers disappointed by his lack of mention of online gambling in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered last Monday.

In a press briefing held Friday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro underscored the administration’s commitment to understanding the root causes of gambling addiction before pursuing any broad-sweeping measures. “We must first know where the problem lies—is it in the license, the online gambling app, or the unlicensed sites? We need to understand where our countrymen are getting addicted to gambling, and whether it’s because of illegal gambling apps,” she said.

She stressed that a total ban could significantly affect the Philippine economy, given the large revenues generated by licensed gambling operators. “This should be studied carefully—what should be done—because if we immediately remove online gambling and other licensees are affected, it will impact assistance to the country, students, and Filipinos,” Castro added.

Noting the importance of licensed gaming revenues in supporting social welfare programs, Castro made it clear that the President would not make a hasty decision. “Revenues from licensed online gambling operators help fund social support programs,” she said.

Data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reveal that the gaming industry continues to play a major role in the national economy. Gross gaming revenues reached PHP214.75 billion ($3.76 billion) in the first half of 2025—a 26 percent increase from the same period last year. Electronic games emerged as the main growth driver, contributing PHP114.83 billion ($2.01 billion), or 53.47 percent of the total revenue.

A recent report from Maybank underlined the rapid growth of the sector, noting that the Philippines now ranks among the top countries in terms of electronic games gross gaming revenue (GGR) as a share of national nominal GDP. In the first quarter of 2025, this figure reached 0.68 percent, up significantly from 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2023.

As public concern over gambling addiction intensifies, efforts to regulate the online gambling space have accelerated. PAGCOR has introduced new regulatory measures, including an immediate ban on gambling billboards and other out-of-home advertisements. The agency also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Advertising Standards Council to regulate and pre-screen gambling advertisements across all media platforms.

In parallel, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, has instructed social media influencers to remove any content that promotes illegal online gaming platforms. According to PAGCOR, around 7,000 unauthorized gaming sites have been taken down by the DICT so far.

The issue is gaining momentum as the Senate prepares to launch a public hearing this week to investigate the expanding presence of online gambling. Representatives from PAGCOR, the Department of Finance (DOF), as well as members of youth groups, religious and academic communities, and parental organizations, are expected to testify in what promises to be a wide-ranging inquiry into the effects of online gaming on Filipino society.

As debate over the future of online gambling in the country heats up, President Marcos Jr. remains resolute in his decision not to rush policy action without a thorough understanding of its long-term economic and social impact.

By fLEXI tEAM