Camille Naredo

Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020.

Citizens use their phones in Quezon City amid the modified enhanced community quarantine on August 16, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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MECQ against COVID-19

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA –- Licensed gaming operators on Wednesday sought for stricter regulation instead of a total ban on online gambling platforms, amid a string of proposed bills aimed at curbing online gambling in the Philippines. In a statement, several licensed gaming operators said prohibition would “not erase online gambling” as Filipinos would continue to play. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/zubiri-pushes-for-total-online-gambling-ban-1506">Zubiri pushes for total online gambling ban, appeals to Marcos Jr. to address issue</a> </div>Total prohibition, they said, would “only push tens of millions of players in the black market where unlicensed, unregulated operators thrive.” “It only erases the safeguards that protect the Filipino people… The choice is whether they do so on secure, licensed platforms that follow regulations, or on black-market sites that answer to no one,” the statement read. It said the licensed online gaming sector in the country has already enforced “some of the strictest protections in Asia” which includes multi-factor authentication, requirement that players are aged 21 or older, and provision of time monitoring for at-risk behaviors. Aside from these, licensed online gaming contributes to national revenues, job creation, and technology development. “Every peso spent on an illegal site is money stolen from communities and funneled straight to illegal operators who ignore our laws,” the gaming operators said. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/7/house-bill-seeks-to-ban-youth-from-online-gambling-1225">House bill seeks to ban youth from online gambling</a> </div>They added that unregulated platforms and players would lose protections since there would be no age checks, no data security, or even contribution to the economy. In 2024, they said Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) license fee reached P54 billion. which supposedly funded national projects. “Let&#x27;s be clear: the real enemy is not regulated gaming. It is the rise of illegal operators who put profits over Filipino welfare. Legal operators do not fear tougher rules, they welcome them. What they fear is surrendering our digital future to the black market,” the statement read. “Rather than bans that simply push players into the shadows, the industry is urging lawmakers to strengthen what already works: tighter age and identity verification, clear limits for at-risk players, stronger anti-money laundering safeguards, faster site takedowns for illegal operators, and expanded public education on player rights and responsible play,” it added. <div>The signatory licensed online gaming operators include: </div>- World Platinum Technologies Inc - AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. - Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc. - Gamemaster Integrated, Inc. - Lucky Taya Gaming Corp. - Stotsenberg Leisure Park &amp; Hotel Corporation - Igo Digital High Technology Inc. - Megabet Corp. - Gavin Ventures Inc. - Gotech Entertainment Inc. - Meta Interactive Software Solutions, Inc. - Nextstage Entertainment Inc. - Webzoid System Solutions Corporation - Trojan Wells Entertainment Corp. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier pushed for a total ban on all forms of online gambling, even those authorized by PAGCOR, as he highlighted the problems caused by what he called a “silent epidemic.” Zubiri believes the government can let go of the revenue from online gambling, which, he said, reached more than P47 billion in the first quarter of 2025. A separate Senate bill also sought to establish an Online Gambling Control Task Force under the Office of the President. Meanwhile, some lawmakers are pushing for an outright ban, while others want to prohibit betting games using electronic wallets. PAGCOR said it will follow any regulation once they are passed into law.

Licensed gaming operators on Wednesday sought for stricter regulation instead of a total ban on online gambling platforms, amid a string of proposed bills aimed at curbing online gambling in the Philippines.

Licensed gaming operators on Wednesday sought for stricter regulation instead of a total ban on online gambling platforms, amid a string of proposed bills aimed at curbing online gambling in the Philippines.

Instead of total ban, licensed operators seek stronger regulation on legal online gambling

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Instead of total ban, licensed operators seek stronger regulation on legal online gambling

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2025 09:38 PM PHT

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Online gambling

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