Marcos considering ban on online gambling

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is considering calls to ban online gambling in the Philippines, according to Malacañang.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the President is carefully evaluating the potential economic and social impacts of such a ban ahead of his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin noted during a press conference that the government is still assessing calls to ban online gambling, emphasizing the need for thorough examination of its ramifications.

Top operators like Solaire Resort, Newport World Resorts, and Okada Manila highlighted their regulated operations under Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) regulations and warned Filipinos might shift to unregulated sites if a total ban is implemented.

Lawmakers such as Negros Occidental Representative Javi Benitez and Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon are pushing for stricter regulations instead of a total ban, while Akbayan party-list Representatives filed House Bill 1351 seeking to limit access to online gambling.

Castro noted during a briefing that Marcos will not object to the Department of Finance's proposed tax on online gaming operators as long as sufficient studies back it.

Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and JV Ejercito have also called for immediate and stricter government regulation of online gaming, citing its growing threat compared to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.