NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Special Report: Online Gambling In The Philippines - From Boom To Ban
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Online gambling in the Philippines has grown from a booming business into a serious social problem. What started in 2016 with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) targeting foreign markets like China quickly became a source of concern. At its height, the POGO industry employed over 300,000 foreign workers and brought billions in revenue to the government. PAGCOR projected 24.5 billion pesos from 46 licensed operators in 2024, with gross gaming revenues reaching P410-billion. But behind these numbers were dark realities: human trafficking, kidnapping, romance scams, and other crimes were becoming common.
By mid-2024, the scale of illegal operations was shocking. PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco reported nearly 300 offshore operators working without licenses—six times more than the legal operators. These illegal operators were linked to criminal syndicates and money laundering. Raids like the Pampanga operation, which freed over 800 workers, highlighted the serious risks. Government officials warned that illegal gambling threatened national security, financial stability, and public safety.
In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a total ban on POGOs and Internet Gaming Licenses (IGLs) through Executive Order No. 74. The ban required all offshore and internet gambling activities to stop by the end of 2024. Technical Working Groups were created to help displaced workers, offering reskilling programs and social safety nets.
Even with the ban, illegal gambling continued. A February 2025 raid in Pasay City arrested 401 people operating an underground gambling hub, showing that these networks were still active. At the same time, domestic online gambling through Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs) expanded, raising worries about youth exposure and the use of e-wallets to gamble.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III warned in March 2025 that children could easily access gambling through mobile apps. He urged schools to teach students about the dangers of online gambling. PAGCOR, however, argued against a total ban, saying regulation was a better solution to protect both the public and the economy. Chairman Tengco said that oversight, not prohibition, would help prevent addiction while keeping jobs and revenue. PAGCOR is exploring AI tools, deposit limits, self-exclusion programs, and partnerships with rehabilitation centers to address gambling problems.
Lawmakers have also focused on accountability. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian proposed a law to punish not just illegal operators but also influencers, endorsers, advertising agencies, and e-wallet providers promoting unlicensed platforms. Other senators, including Juan Miguel Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and JV Ejercito, support a full ban, citing harm to youth, students, and low-income families. Consumer advocacy groups agree that smarter regulation, using modern tools and technology, is needed to protect players without destroying the economy.
In August 2025, the crisis gained even more attention. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez described online gambling as a “silent epidemic” destroying families. A study by Digital Risk Observatory showed that one in three adults had participated in online gambling, and 30 percent of players were aged 15 to 24. Celebrity and influencer endorsements made gambling appear harmless, while families struggled with financial ruin, broken homes, and mental health problems.
Senator Zubiri presented staggering figures: online gambling revenues grew more than 5,500 percent from 2020 to 2024. He also shared heartbreaking stories of people who committed suicide or committed crimes due to gambling debts. Most of the losses came from ordinary wage earners, students, and low-income families. The convenience of digital wallets, like GCash with 94 million users, made gambling even easier, often allowing instant loans to continue betting.
PAGCOR reported that over 60 percent of online gambling operations remain illegal, often based overseas in countries like Russia, Cambodia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. Licensed platforms are limited to 72 operators, with no new approvals since March 2024. Despite coordination with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, illegal operators continue to find ways to target Filipino players.
The country now faces a critical decision: enforce a total ban and risk pushing gambling further underground, or strengthen regulation to protect the public while maintaining revenue and jobs. Both approaches carry risks, but the cost of inaction is clear. Suicides, robberies, family breakdowns, and youth addiction show that online gambling is more than just a game—it is a threat to Filipino families.
By mid-2024, the scale of illegal operations was shocking. PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco reported nearly 300 offshore operators working without licenses—six times more than the legal operators. These illegal operators were linked to criminal syndicates and money laundering. Raids like the Pampanga operation, which freed over 800 workers, highlighted the serious risks. Government officials warned that illegal gambling threatened national security, financial stability, and public safety.
In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a total ban on POGOs and Internet Gaming Licenses (IGLs) through Executive Order No. 74. The ban required all offshore and internet gambling activities to stop by the end of 2024. Technical Working Groups were created to help displaced workers, offering reskilling programs and social safety nets.
Even with the ban, illegal gambling continued. A February 2025 raid in Pasay City arrested 401 people operating an underground gambling hub, showing that these networks were still active. At the same time, domestic online gambling through Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs) expanded, raising worries about youth exposure and the use of e-wallets to gamble.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III warned in March 2025 that children could easily access gambling through mobile apps. He urged schools to teach students about the dangers of online gambling. PAGCOR, however, argued against a total ban, saying regulation was a better solution to protect both the public and the economy. Chairman Tengco said that oversight, not prohibition, would help prevent addiction while keeping jobs and revenue. PAGCOR is exploring AI tools, deposit limits, self-exclusion programs, and partnerships with rehabilitation centers to address gambling problems.
Lawmakers have also focused on accountability. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian proposed a law to punish not just illegal operators but also influencers, endorsers, advertising agencies, and e-wallet providers promoting unlicensed platforms. Other senators, including Juan Miguel Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and JV Ejercito, support a full ban, citing harm to youth, students, and low-income families. Consumer advocacy groups agree that smarter regulation, using modern tools and technology, is needed to protect players without destroying the economy.
In August 2025, the crisis gained even more attention. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez described online gambling as a “silent epidemic” destroying families. A study by Digital Risk Observatory showed that one in three adults had participated in online gambling, and 30 percent of players were aged 15 to 24. Celebrity and influencer endorsements made gambling appear harmless, while families struggled with financial ruin, broken homes, and mental health problems.
Senator Zubiri presented staggering figures: online gambling revenues grew more than 5,500 percent from 2020 to 2024. He also shared heartbreaking stories of people who committed suicide or committed crimes due to gambling debts. Most of the losses came from ordinary wage earners, students, and low-income families. The convenience of digital wallets, like GCash with 94 million users, made gambling even easier, often allowing instant loans to continue betting.
PAGCOR reported that over 60 percent of online gambling operations remain illegal, often based overseas in countries like Russia, Cambodia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. Licensed platforms are limited to 72 operators, with no new approvals since March 2024. Despite coordination with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, illegal operators continue to find ways to target Filipino players.
The country now faces a critical decision: enforce a total ban and risk pushing gambling further underground, or strengthen regulation to protect the public while maintaining revenue and jobs. Both approaches carry risks, but the cost of inaction is clear. Suicides, robberies, family breakdowns, and youth addiction show that online gambling is more than just a game—it is a threat to Filipino families.
Sep 7, 2025
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