Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin speaks before the members of the Malacañang Press Corps at the Guest house, Malacañang on October 04, 2022 KJ Rosales, PPA/Pool

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

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/175299804925820221004-lucas-bersamin-ppa-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin speaks before the members of the Malacañang Press Corps at the Guest house, Malacañang on October 04, 2022 KJ Rosales, PPA/Pool"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin speaks before the members of the Malacañang Press Corps at the Guest house, Malacañang on October 04, 2022 KJ Rosales, PPA/Pool</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The government is still studying online gambling&#x27;s effects on the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s top aide said, adding there will be no change in government policy until then.</p><p>Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President has not issued any directives on online gambling, which is facing calls to ban it in the country due to its social cost.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/7/17/online-gambling-leaves-teens-emotionally-scarred-2231"><strong>Online gambling leaves teens emotionally scarred</strong></a></div><p>The ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators — based in the country but catering to gamblers abroad — is still in place, he also said.</p><p>Marcos Jr. announced the ban on POGOs, which had become linked to investment scams and human trafficking, in his State of the Nation Address last year.</p><p>&quot;Yung tungkol sa online gaming that is not akin to scams or that has nothing to do with scams and online fraud, well, we are still looking into it,&quot; Bersamin said in a chance interview after Marcos Jr.’s departure from the Villamor Air Base on Sunday, July 20, for the US.</p><p>“Because we have to see all the ramifications that gaming of that method may be allowed to operate,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/7/18/influencers-still-promoting-illegal-gambling-could-face-estafa-cases-cicc-1254"><strong>Influencers still promoting illegal gambling could face estafa cases: CICC</strong></a></div><p>Malacañang previously said the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/15/marcos-studying-mounting-calls-for-total-ban-on-online-gambling-1551">President is weighing </a>the potential economic and social repercussions of banning online gambling.</p><p>The government has often defended gambling for the revenues its brings but eventually banned POGOs and e-sabong — virtual betting on cockfights — citing their ill effects. </p><p>Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines, has likened addiction to online gambling to modern-day slavery.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/19/cardinal-ambo-on-pagcor-defense-of-gambling-what-else-will-we-allow-1418"><strong>Cardinal Ambo on PAGCOR defense of gambling: &#x27;What else will we allow?&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>Sen. Raffy Tulfo earlier joined other lawmakers in calling for a total ban on online gambling, adding he hopes that Marcos Jr. will take a position on it in his fourth SONA on July 28.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><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/TV1Vcb1dIOA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong> </div>

<p>The government is still studying online gambling's effects on the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s top aide said, adding there will be no change in government policy until then.</p>

The government is still studying online gambling's effects on the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s top aide said, adding there will be no change in government policy until then.

Gov't still weighing effects of online gambling: Bersamin

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Gov't still weighing effects of online gambling: Bersamin

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2025 03:58 PM PHT

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