Lawmakers question PAGCOR on online gambling addiction, revenues

Lawmakers questioned PAGCOR during a budget briefing on Wednesday about the growing issue of online gambling addiction in the Philippines, noting that online gaming revenues have reached nearly P155 billion since 2021.

PAGCOR expects to generate P116.65 billion this year, with approximately P62 billion to P65 billion coming from the online gaming sector, representing 60% of total projected collections.

Some congressmen argued that the benefits of online gambling do not outweigh the social costs, citing surveys showing 64% of Filipinos aged 18-40 are involved in online gambling.

PAGCOR emphasized the strict registration process for legal operators and highlighted the industry's contribution to employment, employing nearly 40,000 Filipinos with average salaries between P45,000 and P60,000.

Despite efforts to combat illegal operations, concerns remain about unregulated platforms that do not verify player ages, leading to potential violations of regulations. Authorities have shut down almost 8,000 unlicensed digital gaming platforms and e-wallet providers are removing links to gambling sites.