Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri emphasized on Tuesday that simply imposing taxes on online gambling is not a viable solution to its growing negative effects on society.
His statement came after Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro mentioned that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is reviewing the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposal to tax digital gambling platforms as a regulatory move.
Zubiri, who has filed a bill to completely ban online gambling—including mobile apps, websites, and electronic betting platforms—warned against repeating past mistakes. He cited how taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) failed to deter criminal activities and instead worsened syndicates and human trafficking cases.
“We’re making money off the suffering of Filipinos,” Zubiri said. “Taxing online gambling won’t stop the harm it’s causing. Just look at what happened with POGOs—it only got worse.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros also took a firm stance, filing a bill to restrict access to online gambling through e-wallets and super apps. “Phones are not casinos,” she said, noting how easy it has become to get addicted with just a click.
Her bill also includes age restrictions, banning ads across all media, and requiring PAGCOR to implement betting limits. Once a user hits these limits, their account would be suspended for at least 30 days.
Despite the concerns, the online gaming industry posted strong growth, with Q1 2025 revenues hitting P104.12 billion—a 27% jump from last year, largely driven by the boom in electronic gaming.
PAGCOR has welcomed the call for tighter controls, signaling a shift towards more responsible digital gambling practices.