The Philippine government, headed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has started adopting a much more cautious stance on reform as he faces pressure from many in the country to assess the impact that the online gambling market is having on people.
The government wants to take a more pragmatic approach by considering both the social and economic consequences of what is happening at the moment before committing to any policy changes, with an outright ban still on the table.
It may be that the Philippines will follow in the footsteps of other Asian countries in their online gambling reform policies. Japan legalized integrated casino resorts in 2018, but with the caveat of a strict entry fee and a cap on visits for locals to manage domestic risks associated with too much gambling. Macau, once known for its lax oversight, now enforces high AML standards and certification. Whilst Cambodia has cracked down tightly on online gambling altogether, with an outright ban. Singapore, however, has met its gambling issues with a strong policy that is tightly regulated yet remains tourism-focused. The GRA (Gambling Regulation Authority) oversees all gambling activity and strictly enforces licensing. This means there continues to be a lot of really good Singapore online casino options, and the market is booming here. These sites come with huge sign-up bonuses and fast payouts.
The Philippines has had a fairly liberal take on online gambling to date. Despite having harsh crackdowns on POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators), they allow online gambling widely, which has resulted in a huge uptake from the public. However, this has brought societal changes, and many are worried about the impact that online gambling is having on society, with many finding themselves in muddy waters from playing.
Many Filipinos were upset that the gambling issue was not addressed during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address. Numerous calls for bans have risen recently, with startling reports emerging that there are swathes of Filipino nationals suffering harm at the hands of online gambling platforms. Other concerns have been raised about the intersection and blurred lines between online gambling, digital lending, and cybercrime, which continues to affect people. Despite this, many celebrities continue to endorse online gambling in posts, and it has a high presence online.
Claire Castro, the Palace press officer, stated that the administration is aware of the urgency of this issue but wants to take a considered approach that details where the root of the online gambling problems comes from. She went on to advise that the government has to differentiate between legal and illegal activity through licensed and unlicensed platforms to create an effective policy.
Despite the government seemingly wanting more time to decide what they intend, there have been calls from many within the country to ban online gambling altogether due to the societal effects it is having on the population. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva advised that he is concerned about how online gambling is too closely linked to online lending platforms, which are offering high-interest loans that many Filipinos have no chance of paying off and finding themselves in financial trouble further down the line. Meanwhile, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who is the appointed chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, has stated that he believes his committee can make a strong argument for supporting an outright ban on online gambling in the country.
The public will have their chance to weigh in on the debate with a public hearing being arranged soon, but for now, the government still very much remains on the fence with this issue.