Group: Regulate, not ban, e-gambling; senators welcome curbs
An advocacy group on Monday called for strengthened regulation, rather than a total ban, of the online gambling industry, warning that a blanket prohibition would “create more problems.”
According to CitizenWatch Philippines, the country could benefit more from a “more balanced and forward-looking approach” to the issue.
“What we need is stricter, smarter regulation—clear rules, modern tools, and responsible enforcement that protect our people while preserving public benefit,” CitizenWatch lead convener Orlando Oxales said.
A “blanket ban” would likely just drive the industry underground, he warned, stripping regulators of oversight and leaving users vulnerable to illegal and often predatory offshore operators outside of the country’s jurisdiction.
Vital source
Oxales pointed out how the legal online gaming industry has become a vital source of public funding, generating P50 billion in revenue in 2024, half of which supported universal health care, grassroots sports development, and drug rehabilitation programs. Eliminating this industry could remove up to P100 billion in projected earnings in the coming year.
“Let’s be clear: Abuse must be stopped. But prohibition is a blunt tool. Precision regulation is more effective—and more sustainable,” stressed Oxales, pointing to technology-driven safeguards such as artificial intelligence or AI systems that could monitor gambling behavior, enforce self-exclusion protocols, and detect high-risk activity.
“License only those willing to meet high standards, hold them strictly accountable, and equip regulators with the tools to do their job. Strengthen—not abandon—oversight,” Oxales said.
Also batting for stricter regulation of the industry is Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who on Monday lamented in a statement that the country’s laws “are being left behind by the rapid pace of technology.”
“[T]hat’s why we’ve filed a bill to limit access to online gambling, particularly in e-wallets and super apps,” she said.
While major casino resort operators have affirmed their commitment to comply with pertinent laws and regulations, Hontiveros said it was not enough that they follow the law.
“If big casinos say they are following regulations, that’s well and good. That means there should be no issue if we tighten access to online gambling,” she said.
“[I]t’s not enough that we follow the law. We also need to care.”
‘Buried in debt’
According to Hontiveros, her office has received numerous messages from people desperate for help: “These are reports of loved ones who have become addicted, buried in debt, and who’ve taken their own lives due to this vice. Too many lives have been ruined and could be ruined by online gambling.”
She said that while casino operators had committed to responsible gaming, digital platforms must follow suit.
“With so many complaints pointing to how phones have made online gambling too easy to access, why are e-wallet and super app companies silent? I hope that they would also take steps to self-regulate,” she said.
Solaire Resort, Newport World Resorts, and Okada Manila earlier issued a joint statement stressing that they prioritize ethical business practices and promote responsible gaming, under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s (Pagcor) strong supervision.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ move to tighten online gambling payment rules as “a monumental step toward the responsible use of digital services, affirming the urgent need to strictly regulate online gambling.”
Gatchalian has filed a bill seeking tighter e-gambling regulations, such as mandating the registration of operators with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the establishment of safeguards to protect the financial health of consumers.
For her part, Sen. Pia Cayetano commended the Department of Information and Communications Technology for ordering content creators to remove materials that promote online gambling, which “shows a clear intent to enforce accountability,” she said.
She also welcomed Pagcor’s directive to remove all gambling-related billboards and other public advertisements nationwide.
Cayetano has filed her own bill seeking to prohibit all forms of online gambling, especially gambling through e-wallets, and restricting their promotion on social media.
