Online Gambling Boom Sparks Require Ban In Philippines

Women, children and bad among victims


Lawmakers propose limitations or total ban


Church lambastes 'ethical and social crisis'


By Mariejo Ramos


MANILA, July 25 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Before gamblers stopped the live roulette wheel or forgo the glory of a royal flush in poker, Filipino Reagan Praferosa fought his own addiction - an enthusiasm that practically cost him his life.


Enthralled by the "big-shot identity" that featured early casino victories in Las Vegas and later in Manila, Praferosa went on to lose 50 million pesos ($873,515) in seven years.


He was imprisoned for theft to cover the financial obligation, sent out to rehab centers and after that attempted to take his own life.


"Gambling is a psychological disease. It only causes three places: jail, organization or death," said Praferosa, who created a support system in 2011 for Filipinos with a betting dependency.


The group, handled by 5 individuals, has assisted more than 300 individuals with online everyday meetings. Its members are as young as 13 and as old as 72.


Lawmakers and the Catholic Church stress that addiction is skyrocketing, with ever more bettors drawn to online video games, their need accelerated by social-media advertisements and e-wallet platforms.


"The number of callers we got is 10 times more than normal. Before, callers were dominated by men. Now they ´ re controlled by moms ... children as well," stated Praferosa.


Several legislators have filed bills seeking restrictions on online gambling, such as forbiding the use of e-wallets that enable larger, quicker bets. Others want an overall ban.


Online gambling has taken off rapidly in the Philippines, with government revenues from taxes and costs paid by regional operators for the very first quarter approximated at 51 billion pesos, ($892 million) according to report mentioning information from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the government's video gaming regulator.


It represented about half of the government ´ s total gaming profits so far this year.


A minimum of 80 electronic video gaming operators have licences in the Philippines, according to PAGCOR.


Gian Samson, a PAGCOR worker, said he backs a straight-out ban, declaring the human dangers far outweigh the economic advantages.


"Online gaming should be stopped instantly, and we must identify what is legal or unlawful. It ´ s not contributing anything to our society," said Samson, an agent of PAGCOR's staff member association.


The chairman of PAGCOR, established in 1977 to manage gaming and stop illegal gambling establishments, rejects an overall ban and rather favors stricter policy.


GROWING PROBLEM


Former president Rodrigo Duterte introduced online gambling in 2016, unlocking to mostly Chinese-owned companies that dealt with clients outside the nation.


President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reversed track and imposed a restriction on the outdoors entities last year, mentioning a "serious abuse" of laws by the industry.


However, domestic digital variations of conventional gambling establishment video games, such as slots, poker and live roulette, are still allowed and can be accessed from mobile devices.


While online gambling is legal, Samson said regulators have actually failed to limit the market or control who can access these games, as is mandated.


"They are providing Filipinos simple and hassle-free access to gambling. In just a tap of a button, you can diminish your life cost savings," he said.


Players can join a game, then withdraw all their incomes through popular e-payment apps that even kids can utilize, he stated.


DigiPlus Interactive, operator of video gaming websites BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, said prohibiting licensed operators would "drive players towards illegal, uncontrolled sites with no safeguards" along with struck some 50,000 workers in the sector.


"We are open to progressing and improving wherever required. If there are new requirements to meet, or better methods to safeguard players, we will act promptly and properly," DigiPlus Chair Eusebio Tanco said in a statement.


RECOVERY


The church has actually decried online betting as a "ethical and social crisis" and required a restriction.


"It is now a public health crisis in our society, much like drug addiction, alcoholism and other kinds of addiction. It destroys not just the person however also their households," Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, stated in a pastoral letter.


He stated online betting harms poor Filipinos who have practically no salary or savings and youths who are currently having problem with the expense of education along with other vulnerable people.


In one Facebook recovery group with more than 25,000 members, one user stated he attempted to visit installing an online gambling obstructing app called Gamban however stopped working to curb his dependency.


Gamban, a software application supplier based in Britain, can be set up on personal devices to obstruct online gaming sites.


Gamban founder Matt Zarb-Cousin stated the Philippines is the app ´ s third-highest source of new signups, after Brazil and Britain, reflecting a rise from about 26,000 visitors in 2024 to more than 32,000 in the very first half of 2025.


"It might be driven by the occurrence of online betting, legal and illegal," said Zarb-Cousin.


He said online gambling establishments are connected with greater rates of addiction than traditional gambling, and about 80% of Gamban users play mostly slots.


"Everyone wishes to make better lives for themselves, and gambling is something that can entirely damage that in an extremely short area of time," said the former gambling addict.


In nations such as Britain, the Netherlands and Norway, Gamban is complimentary. In the Philippines, it costs $3.49 a month.


"There must be obligations put on gambling operators to safeguard customers sufficiently. And in my ideal world, there wouldn't be as lots of people needing Gamban," he said.


"Regulation, if done effectively, can prevent or at the minimum reduce online gaming substantially." (Reporting by Mariejo Ramos. Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths and Ellen Wulfhorst. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters. Visit https://www.context.news)