Recto: Gov mulls stricter e-gambling rules

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto stated on Tuesday that the government is still studying additional regulations for the online gambling industry, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s silence on the issue during his State of the Nation Address.

Recto noted that discussions are ongoing with PAGCOR to address concerns about gambling addiction and the broader impact of the industry.

The Department of Finance is considering increasing fee rates for electronic games from 30 percent to as high as 40 percent, but Recto cautioned that excessively high fees could drive more gambling underground.

An outright ban remains a possibility but is seen as potentially harmful by pushing the industry into illegality.

Other proposals include requiring a higher minimum cash-in amount for play and limiting betting time, which are being discussed with PAGCOR and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.