Lawmakers seek iGaming probe as PAGCOR opposes total ban
Two lawmakers in the Philippines’ House of Representatives have called for a congressional inquiry into the growing social and economic toll of online gambling in the Philippines. 1Tahanan Party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado and FPJ Panday Bayanihan Rep. Brian Poe have filed separate resolutions urging the House to investigate the industry’s harmful effects, particularly the rise in illegal and offshore operators.
Oducado’s House Resolution 42 seeks to examine the link between online gambling and worsening financial distress, mental health issues, and increased criminal exposure. Poe’s House Resolution 40, on the other hand, warns that unregulated operators enable illicit activity and deprive the government of revenue.
The two lawmakers have raised concerns about a lack of oversight and weak enforcement of illegal digital gambling platforms. Poe pointed out the role of offshore operators in facilitating money laundering and other crimes, while Oducado stressed that online gambling has reached low-income communities and even the unemployed.
Survey shows high engagement among young adults
Citing a 2023 Capstone-Intel survey, Oducado said that two-thirds of Filipinos aged 18 to 24 participate in online gambling, with over half of middle-aged Filipinos also engaging in the activity. Of 1,200 respondents, 64 percent had placed bets online, with nearly a third doing so multiple times a week.
Most respondents spent less than PHP1,000 ($18) per session, but around 20 percent reported spending up to PHP3,000 ($53). The findings suggest that gambling is often driven by curiosity and the hope of winning quick money.
Oducado raised concerns over the impact on vulnerable groups, including a case of a finance executive who reportedly lost PHP20 million ($354,540) through loans. He added that gambling-related problems often lead to debt, family conflict, and mental health crises.
The lawmaker also pointed out the absence of a central authority overseeing digital gambling and urged the inclusion of digital platforms, payment gateways, and internet service providers in the investigation.
PAGCOR warns against blanket ban, supports stricter rules
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) responded to growing calls for a total ban on online gambling by stating its preference for tighter regulation over prohibition.
In a local radio interview, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said that while the agency recognises the need to address concerns, a complete ban would harm employment and government revenues. He reported that the agency generated over PHP100 billion ($1.8 billion) in online gambling-related income, with half of last year’s PHP84.97 billion ($1.5 billion) net earnings coming from e-games and e-bingo.
Tengco warned that a ban would affect not only 32,000 direct industry jobs but also ancillary services such as transportation, food, and security. He also noted that foreign-based illegal operators are undermining the industry by targeting Filipino consumers.
To address addiction, PAGCOR is working with rehabilitation centres and developing a self-exclusion feature for gambling platforms. Tengco said the agency is also coordinating with the Ad Standards Council to monitor and regulate advertising and is considering raising the minimum top-up amount for online gaming to limit access by minors and those with limited means.
