Philippines online gambling ban threat puts 50,000 jobs at risk
The Philippine government is increasingly feeling the pressure to make a major decision about the future of online gambling. There are growing concerns about how this sector might impact society, despite its significant economic benefits. According to recent data from licensed operators, a complete ban on online gambling could put over 50,000 jobs at risk.
According to media reports, the licensed online gaming sector contributed over PHP 112 billion (approx. 1.75 billion) to the national government in 2024. This includes PHP 16.6 billion for healthcare programmes and PHP 46.32 billion remitted as dividends to the national treasury. An outright ban could be costly to the country.
The warnings come amid intensified scrutiny, sparked by a strong message from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the weekend. In a video message, Marcos said that the irresponsible use of digital platformsincluding for online gamblingwas tearing families apart.
Many families are being destroyed by it [online gambling], especially if it is used irresponsibly, he said. Technology should help make Filipino families successful and united, not destroy them.
Calls to ban online gambling intensify?
His comments have reignited a polarising debate. Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Christopher have proposed legislation to ban all forms of online gambling, citing its accessibility to the youth and its links to social harm.
However, Tonet Quiogue, chief executive of Arden Consult, a private advisory firm to online operators, pushed back against the proposed ban. The real enemy is illegal, unregulated gambling, not the licensed platforms that follow strict safeguards and contribute meaningfully to national development, she said.
Quiogue highlighted that legal platforms are already aligned with international best practices, implementing KYC protocols, age verification systems, self-exclusion tools, and real-time monitoring to ensure user safety. You ban those, and what you get is a black-market surge, she warned.
PAGCOR chairman calls for better oversight?
Officials from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the national gambling regulator, echoed this sentiment. PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco stated that the licensed online gaming sector generates approximately $1.8 billion annually through operator fees. Better regulation, not a ban, is the right response to these concerns, he stated earlier this month.
Regulatory efforts are now gaining momentum. On 16 July 2025, PAGCOR signed a memorandum of understanding with the Advertising Standards Council to tighten control over gambling-related advertising. All promotional content, including on digital platforms, will now be pre-screened before public release.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto recently announced that the government is considering further reforms. These include a proposed 10 percent tax on online gambling operators and a possible mandate for companies to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
The Catholic Church has also weighed in on the matter. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the moral and social harms of online gambling far outweigh the economic benefits.
As the conversation escalates, the future of online gambling in the Philippines remains in flux, caught between its economic significance and growing societal concerns.
