Online Gambling Boom Sparks Require Ban In Philippines
Women, kids and poor amongst victims
Lawmakers propose limitations or overall restriction
Church lambastes 'moral and social crisis'
By Mariejo Ramos
MANILA, July 25 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Before helping fellow gamblers quit the roulette wheel or forgo the glory of a royal flush in poker, Filipino Reagan Praferosa fought his own addiction - an enthusiasm that practically cost him his life.
Enthralled by the "big-shot identity" that featured early in Las Vegas and later in Manila, Praferosa went on to lose 50 million pesos ($873,515) in seven years.
He was imprisoned for theft to cover the financial obligation, sent to rehab centers and after that attempted to take his own life.
"Gambling is a psychological illness. It only leads to 3 places: prison, organization or death," said Praferosa, who developed a support system in 2011 for Filipinos with a gaming addiction.
The group, managed by five people, has actually assisted more than 300 individuals with online everyday conferences. Its members are as young as 13 and as old as 72.
Lawmakers and the Catholic Church stress that dependency is soaring, with ever more gamblers drawn to online games, their requirement accelerated by social-media advertisements and e-wallet platforms.
"The number of callers we received is 10 times more than usual. Before, callers were dominated by males. And now they ´ re controlled by mothers ... children as well," said Praferosa.
Several legislators have actually filed costs seeking limitations on online gaming, such as restricting making use of e-wallets that allow larger, quicker bets. Others desire an overall restriction.
Online betting has taken off rapidly in the Philippines, with federal government profits from taxes and costs paid by local operators for the first quarter estimated at 51 billion pesos, ($892 million) according to news reports citing information from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the government's gaming regulator.
It accounted for about half of the federal government ´ s total gaming revenues so far this year.
At least 80 electronic video gaming operators have licences in the Philippines, according to PAGCOR.
Gian Samson, a PAGCOR employee, said he backs a straight-out restriction, claiming the human dangers far surpass the economic benefits.
"Online betting must be stopped instantly, and we should determine what is legal or unlawful. It ´ s not contributing anything to our society," said Samson, a representative of PAGCOR's worker association.
The chairman of PAGCOR, established in 1977 to manage video gaming and stop prohibited gambling establishments, rejects a total ban and rather prefers stricter policy.
GROWING PROBLEM
Former president Rodrigo Duterte ushered in online gaming in 2016, opening the door to mainly Chinese-owned companies that catered to clients outside the nation.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reversed track and imposed a ban on the outside entities in 2015, mentioning a "serious abuse" of laws by the market.
However, domestic digital versions of standard casino video games, such as slot devices, poker and live roulette, are still allowed and can be accessed from mobile gadgets.
While online gambling is legal, Samson said regulators have failed to limit the market or control who can access these games, as is mandated.
"They are providing Filipinos simple and practical access to betting. In just a tap of a button, you can deplete your life cost savings," he said.
Players can join a video game, then withdraw all their earnings through popular e-payment apps that even kids can use, he stated.
DigiPlus Interactive, operator of video gaming sites BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, stated banning licensed operators would "drive players towards prohibited, unregulated sites with no safeguards" as well as hit some 50,000 employees in the sector.
"We are open to developing and improving wherever needed. If there are brand-new requirements to fulfill, or much better ways to protect gamers, we will act promptly and responsibly," DigiPlus Chair Eusebio Tanco stated in a declaration.
RECOVERY
The church has decried online gaming as a "ethical and social crisis" and called for a restriction.
"It is now a public health crisis in our society, much like drug addiction, alcohol addiction and other types of dependency. It ruins not only the individual but likewise their families," Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, stated in a pastoral letter.
He stated online gambling injures poor Filipinos who have practically no salary or cost savings and youths who are currently struggling with the expense of education along with other susceptible people.
In one Facebook recovery group with more than 25,000 members, one user said he attempted to stop by installing an online betting obstructing app called Gamban however failed to curb his dependency.
Gamban, a software application provider based in Britain, can be installed on personal gadgets to obstruct online gaming websites.
Gamban creator Matt Zarb-Cousin stated the Philippines is the app ´ s third-highest source of new signups, after Brazil and Britain, reflecting a rise from about 26,000 visitors in 2024 to more than 32,000 in the first half of 2025.
"It may be driven by the prevalence of online gambling, legal and prohibited," said Zarb-Cousin.
He said online casinos are related to higher rates of addiction than conventional gaming, and about 80% of Gamban users play mostly slots.
"Everyone wants to make better lives for themselves, and gaming is something that can totally damage that in an extremely short area of time," stated the former gambling addict.
In nations such as Britain, the Netherlands and Norway, Gamban is complimentary. In the Philippines, it costs $3.49 a month.
"There need to be responsibilities put on gambling operators to secure customers sufficiently. And in my perfect world, there would not be as lots of people requiring Gamban," he stated.
"Regulation, if done effectively, can prevent or at least reduce online betting considerably." (Reporting by Mariejo Ramos. Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths and Ellen Wulfhorst. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters. Visit https://www.context.news)
