Senator Risa Hontiveros is pushing for a nationwide crackdown on online gambling, calling for a ban on access through e-wallets and super apps as part of her priority legislative agenda for the 20th Congress. Citing the surge of gambling addiction among Filipinos, she warned that the convenience of mobile betting has led many down a dangerous path.
“Many Filipinos are burdened with debt because of online gambling, which was made easier by e-wallets,” Hontiveros said in an Inquirer.net report. “For some, life has been the equivalent of such.”
Under her proposed bill, those below 21 years old would be barred from all online gambling platforms. Advertising online gambling on billboards, TV, radio, and social media would also be strictly prohibited.
“Let us also put an end to many billboards, commercials, and social media ads [that] encourage gambling,” she added. “It’s like we’re encouraging our people to be in debt.”
The measure also directs the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to set betting and loss limits on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Once these caps are reached, accounts must be suspended for at least 30 days.
“Because there are no limitations in gambling, what’s happening is that some do it until they no longer have money,” she stressed. “This results to unli-debt and unli-problems.”
To fund recovery and regulation efforts, the bill proposes a minimum 10% tax on gross online gambling revenues, earmarked for addiction treatment, public education campaigns, enforcement, and policy research.
“Let us help our people get past this and ensure that no more will be addicted to online gambling. One life lost to gambling is one too many,” she said.
A counterpart bill in the House was also filed by Akbayan Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao. Meanwhile, Malacañang noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring the growing number of Filipinos suffering from gambling addiction.
