Lawmakers eye restrictions, ban on online gambling
Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismulla filed House Bill 1351 restricting access to online gambling or the Kontra e-Sugal Act.
Under the proposal, access to online gambling or casinos will be limited by imposing the following measures:
establishment of strict age verification protocols
prescribing limits on advertising and promotion
implementing a national- self-exclusion registry
imposing betting loss limits
prescribing minimum guidelines for player protection
creating a harm mitigation levy
recognize gambling disorder as a public health condition
banning campaign contributions from gambling operators and
implement strict penalties for unlicensed operators and non-compliant persons.
'Online gambling is accessible anytime, anywhere and often anonymously, making it particularly addictive and harmful to minors, persons who may be vulnerable to the lure of gaining easy money, and those desperate to make ends meet. Online gambling thus poses unique and costly risks, not only for those who gamble but also their families, communities, and Philippine society,' the authors said in their explanatory note.
'The absence of regulatory controls has led to a rise of gambling-related problems, including financial meltdowns, family breakdowns, gambling addiction, depression, and other mental health issues. The Kontra e-Sugal Act of 2025 seeks to establish a framework to regulate online gambling in the Philippines [while being able to] safeguard public welfare, protect vulnerable groups, and ensure responsible gambling practices,' the lawmakers added.
Likewise, the Akbayan lawmakers said their proposal is in accordance to the constitutional provision mandating the State to 'promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all."
'Presently, there is no law specifically regulating online gambling platforms in the country. The State, in the exercise of its inherent police power, must act decisively to protect the physical, mental, and social well-being of its citizens from the growing harms associated with online gambling. Hence, this proposed legislation,' they added.
But for Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, there should be a total ban on online gambling.
'As it is, anyone can do that (gambling) with a smartphone. If you want to cut a tree, do not just trim the branches. Go to the very root of the problem,' Adiong said.
'The possible benefits that you get does not actually outweigh the negative effects that you have. Any measure that would affect the moral fiber of our society should be prioritized,' he added.
Back in August 2024, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chief Al Tengco told lawmakers that the agency is studying to revive e-sabong, a online gambling rooted longstanding tradition of cockfighting matches in the Philippines, because e-sabong brought in as much as P6 billion worth of government revenues within a year before it was banned by the Duterte administration in 2022.
E-sabong was banned in 2022 due to the problems also being raised against online gambling now. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
Senator urges BSP to apply stricter measures vs. online lending apps
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Friday called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to implement more stringent action against online lending apps amid the rise of internet gambling in the country. Villanueva, who earlier filed an anti-online gambling bill, said the BSP's regulatory oversight on online lending apps, electronic wallets, and digital banks should complement the efforts of law enforcement agencies in addressing the ill effects of online gambling to society. "Kapag pinagsama po ang iligal na online gambling at ang mapagsamantalang pautang ng mga online lending apps, siguradong malulugmok sa kumunoy ang ating mga kababayan," the senator said in a statement. (When you combine illegal online gambling and the exploitative loans offered by the online lending apps, our countrymen will surely fall into quicksand.) "Regulatory agencies must exercise their oversight to support our law enforcement bodies, and do their fair share in slowing down the rampant use of online gambling platforms," he added. The Senate is set to hold an investigation regarding online gambling in the country, as announced by Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate games and amusement committee. Several other lawmakers have also called either for the total ban or strict regulation of online gambling, citing its negative impact on Filipinos who got addicted to it. Villanueva also disclosed that he received information that some employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) have now shifted to online gambling operations, seeking electronic gaming licenses from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). "How does PAGCOR actually screen and monitor its licensees to ensure that these same individuals are not resurfacing under a different name or company? What concrete actions does PAGCOR take when irregularities are discovered?" he asked. PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco earlier noted that the gaming industry regulator recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) to strengthen the monitoring of gambling-related advertisements across all platforms. It also recently ordered the takedown of all gambling ads in public spaces and primetime TV by August 15 this year. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12 hours ago
- GMA Network
Palace sad over MILF decommissioning delay, eyes deeper talks
The Philippine government will discuss thoroughly with concerned parties the decision of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to suspend the decommissioning of its remaining combatants and weapons. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a press briefing Friday that the information already reached President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. 'Yes po medyo nakalulungkot po na balita 'yan dahil alam naman po natin na ang gobyerno po ay talagang naglalaan ng pondo para sa magandang kinabukasan ng mga nagnanais na bumalik at magkaroon ng normal na buhay,' Castro said. (Yes, that is sad news since we all know that the government allots funds to provide better future for those combatants who want to go back to their normal lives.) Castro mentioned the forms of aid given to MILF combatants, including the P100,000 cash assistance for each MILF combatant as well as other socio-economic programs. 'So siguro lamang po ay mas kinakailangan pa ng mas lalimang pag-uusap para mas maging maganda ang kahihinatnan nito para rin sa miyembro ng MILF,' she said. (Maybe we just need to have deeper talks to ensure better outcomes for the MILF.) Asked what will be the next course of action on this matter, Castro said, 'Makikipagusap po nang mas masinsinan para po mas maging maganda ang resulta.' (We will have thorough discussions to attain better results.) To recall, the MILF had suspended the decommissioning process until the national government complies with the provisions of the Annex of Normalization, which is a component of the peace deal between the two parties in 2014. In a resolution by the central committee, the MILF stated that it would decommission ita remaining 14,000 forces and 2,450 weapons 'only upon the substantial compliance by the government of the Philippines in other tracks of normalization, including the provision of socio-economic package as agreed by the GPH and the MILF peace implementing panels to the 26,145 combatants.' — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
DFA: No Filipino hurt in wake of Russia earthquake
'Ang affected ng tsunami alerts ay of course eastern coast of Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula, yung ating Filipinos in Hawaii, yung ating Filipinos in New Zealand, and west coast of the United States,' said Ferrer in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing. No Filipinos were hurt after the Magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said. DFA Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said that they are monitoring the situation in the areas that raised tsunami alerts following the tremor. 'Ang affected ng tsunami alerts ay of course eastern coast of Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula, yung ating Filipinos in Hawaii, yung ating Filipinos in New Zealand, and west coast of the United States,' said Ferrer in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing. (The areas affected by the tsunami alerts are, of course, the eastern coast of Russia, the Kamchatka Peninsula, our Filipinos in Hawaii, our Filipinos in New Zealand, and the west coast of the United States.) 'But as I speak to you now, bumaba na po yung mga tsunami alert levels, so hindi na po dangerous. Yung pinakamatinding tinamaan ng tsunami is yung eastern coast of Kamchatka Peninsula, where we have seven Filipinos in that area. So kinontact na po ng embahada natin sa Moscow ang mga Filipinos at walang tayong balitang may nasaktan o nasawi, buti na lang,' he added. (As I speak to you now, the tsunami alert levels have been lowered, so it's no longer dangerous. The eastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula was hit the hardest by the tsunami, and we have seven Filipinos in that area. Our embassy in Moscow has already contacted these Filipinos, and thankfully, we have no reports of injuries or fatalities.) The DFA advised Filipinos abroad to always heed the advisories issued by the Philippine embassies. In the Philippines, the state seismic bureau, PHIVOLCS, issued tsunami warnings in over 20 provinces, particularly coastal areas on the eastern side of the country facing the Pacific Ocean. But it was eventually lifted after state seismologists did not notice any sea level disturbances. –NB, GMA Integrated News
