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Marcos concerned with online gambling, additional regulations being discussed - Recto

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175377313433420250711-online-gambling-JC-0541-Edit.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday said discussions are still ongoing on what additional regulations will be imposed on the online gambling industry, after lawmakers pointed its absence from the chief executive&#x27;s State of the Nation Address.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/senators-disappointed-over-non-mention-of-online-gambling-in-sona-0733">&#x27;Nakapanghihinayang&#x27;: Senators disappointed over Marcos &#x27;silence&#x27; on online gambling in SONA</a></div><p>“The President is concerned with it. There will be additional regulation, possibly more revenues… Pinag-uusapan pa,” said Department of Finance chief, in a chance interview after the Post-SONA 2025 forum in San Juan.</p><p>His statement comes after several lawmakers and groups questioned why President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sidestepped the issue during his SONA on Monday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/pangilinan-wants-inquiry-into-dangerous-normalization-of-online-gambling-1102">Pangilinan wants inquiry into online gambling after Marcos skips issue in SONA 2025</a></div><p>According to the Finance chief, one of the options on the table is to increase the license fee rates for online gambling companies.</p><p>Currently, integrated resorts or those that operate both physical and online games pay the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) 25 percent of their gross gaming revenues.</p><p>“Pwede gawing 30 (percent), pwede gawing 35 (percent), pwede gawing 40 (percent). We’re studying that because if it’s too high, baka naman lalong lumago din yung illegal,” Recto said.</p><p>“They (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) have the authority so there’s no need for us to go to Congress,” he added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/20/online-gambling-harming-filipino-families-says-marcos-jr-0637">Online gambling harming Filipino families, says Marcos Jr</a></div><p>He also said that an outright ban is being considered, but in his opinion, that could lead to more harm than good since they may just go underground.</p><p>“My advice, do not gamble. Having said that, if people do gamble, I would rather regulate it than they go to the illegal. Today, my understanding is 60 percent is illegal and 40 percent is legal. If you ban, 100 percent will become illegal… It’s a balancing act,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/7/16/addiction-to-online-gambling-a-mental-health-issue-doh-1507">Addiction to online gambling a mental health issue — DOH chief Herbosa</a></div><p>Other proposals like requiring a higher minimum cash-in amount to play, removing e-gambling links on mobile wallets, and limiting the betting time are also being discussed with PAGCOR and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), according to Recto.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/25/gcash-says-to-follow-government-online-gambling-regulations-2317">GCash says to follow government online gambling regulations</a></div><p>For 2025, the DOF expects roughly P200 billion in revenues from the gambling industry— both brick-and-mortar establishments and online.</p><p>“[Tig-]hundred, hundred yata yan. But moving forward the growth rate of online is much higher. So I’m saying that we can increase the revenues to a higher rate,” said Recto.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w5xp1w88cgw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hjj1Fd_nkpA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said discussions are still ongoing on what additional regulations will be imposed on the online gambling industry, after lawmakers pointed its absence from the chief executive's State of the Nation Address.</p>

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said discussions are still ongoing on what additional regulations will be imposed on the online gambling industry, after lawmakers pointed its absence from the chief executive's State of the Nation Address.

Marcos concerned with online gambling, additional regulations being discussed—Recto

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Marcos concerned with online gambling, additional regulations being discussed—Recto

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 29, 2025 03:14 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 29, 2025 04:44 PM PHT

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