Manila: Senators are urging regulatory bodies to intensify measures against online gambling, considering a comprehensive ban, due to its damaging effects on Filipino families and societal values.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, who proposed Senate Bill No. 47, the ‘Anti-Online Gambling Act,’ argued that the allure of quick riches has led many individuals into financial distress and criminal activities. During a session of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement chaired by Senator Erwin Tulfo, Villanueva highlighted troubling instances, including a woman who sold her home due to gambling losses, a teenager burdened with PHP500,000 in debts, minors resorting to theft, and a police officer committing armed robbery to cover gambling debts.
Senator Pia Cayetano questioned whether the projected increase in gambling revenues-from PHP58 billion in 2023 to PHP154 billion in 2024-justifies the societal harm. She pointed to a recent suicide of a 22-year-old in Benguet as an example of the severe consequences of gambling addiction.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano criticized the normalization of gambling, saying it erodes societal values and undermines the government’s investment in education. He called out the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for not acting swiftly to cut e-wallet links to gambling sites, despite the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s capability to do so immediately.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta described e-gambling as a ‘social ogre,’ urging the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to provide a detailed list of licensed operators. PAGCOR chair Alejandro Tengco agreed to supply information on nearly 70 licensees. Marcoleta also called for the BSP to halt all e-wallet connections to gambling platforms, a move already approved by the Monetary Board.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, who led the hearing, criticized PAGCOR for the transition from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs) without sufficient oversight. He linked online gambling to suicides, family breakdowns, and job losses, advocating for either stricter controls or an outright ban.
From September 2022 to August 2025, the Department of Finance identified 11,985 illegal online gambling sites, with over 3,000 still operational. PAGCOR’s August report indicated that online gaming constitutes nearly 60% of its revenue, with license fee projections of PHP60 billion by 2025.
Tengco defended the regulatory framework for PIGOs, citing age limits, Know Your Customer checks, and game certifications by international firms. He acknowledged the rapid industry growth has challenged enforcement efforts.
The panel set a deadline for the BSP to remove all gambling apps from e-wallet platforms by Sunday morning, threatening contempt charges for non-compliance. Senator Tulfo pressed BSP’s Ruel Bumatay for a clear timeline to eliminate illegal gambling links, emphasizing the Senate’s view of the issue as a national priority. Bumatay confirmed the BSP’s commitment to compliance and potential sanctions for non-action.
