The Philippine Senate is poised to begin committee hearings next week to decide whether online gambling should be banned or more tightly regulated, as the national debate over its social and economic impacts intensifies.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Games and Amusements Committee, announced the move during a press briefing on Wednesday. Tulfo, a vocal critic of online gambling, said he is determined to push for a complete ban and hopes to rally fellow senators around a unified stance.
“We need to be unanimous, and I believe I can convince all the members,” Tulfo said. He explained that the upcoming hearings will involve a broad range of stakeholders, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Department of Finance (DOF), and representatives from the executive branch.
Tulfo said the inquiry would focus on the harmful effects of online gambling on Filipino families, especially on minors. He plans to include testimonies from youth groups, parents, schools, and church organisations to highlight the social toll of the practice.
“Personally, I want this online gambling to stop,” he stated, citing stories of broken families, school dropouts, and people falling into deep debt as consequences of easy access to gambling platforms.
PAGCOR and DOF reject ban calls
PAGCOR and the DOF, however, have rejected calls for an outright ban. Both agencies argue that online gambling has become a significant source of revenue and that stricter oversight and higher taxes would be a more pragmatic approach.
Government data shows that online gambling accounted for nearly 53 percent of gross gaming revenue in the first half of 2025. As such, the Finance Department is now weighing whether to impose a 30 percent licence tax on online gaming operators.
Tulfo pushed back against this strategy, warning that regulation could merely drive operations underground, where illegal activities are harder to monitor. He cited the example of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), many of which were shut down due to violations but continued to operate illegally.
“Our law enforcement is not effective. The police arrest them, and in a day or two, they’re back again,” he said, expressing doubt over whether a total ban could be properly enforced.
While Tulfo supports physical 바카라s where security checks are enforced, he is sceptical about the ability to restrict online gambling access effectively. PAGCOR has clarified that licensed online platforms also require ID verification and restrict participation to those aged 21 and above. The agency blamed the rise in underage gambling on unlicensed offshore operators targeting Filipino users.
Debate in parliament continues
The upcoming hearings follow a privilege speech by Senator Migz Zubiri, who introduced a bill seeking to ban online gambling entirely. Other senators, including Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Bato dela Rosa, Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and JV Ejercito, expressed support for the proposed ban.
Senator Villanueva said his Senate Bill 47, or the Anti-Online Gambling Act, is now among the chamber’s top 10 priority measures. Some lawmakers have also proposed legislation that would prohibit gambling platforms from linking with e-wallets, a move aimed at curbing easy access to gambling apps.
As the Senate prepares for hearings, the debate centres on whether the potential tax revenues from online gambling can outweigh its growing social costs.
