No ban on online gambling in Philippines for now.
The debate over whether the Philippine government ought to prohibit online gaming has been ongoing for some time. But it gained traction in recent days following a passionate statement by a Catholic Church bishop highlighting the cultural and societal implications, particularly among the younger generations and families.
On July 27, 2025, everyone eagerly awaited President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) from Malacañang Palace, hoping for any updates regarding a potential ban on online gambling in the Philippines. However, to everyone’s surprise, President Marcos made no mention of gambling in his speech.
Philippines’ State of the Nation Address skips talks on online gambling ban
At the two-hour State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Manila, President Marcos discussed a variety of planned reforms across sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. Although the economy was mentioned and lower inflation was promised, the topic of online gambling was not brought up during the discussion.
Last year at the State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos suggested a bill to permanently close down offshore gambling businesses in the Philippines, particularly Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). Since there was no explicit mention of online gambling during this year’s SONA, it seems unlikely that a ban is currently being planned.
While the government may not currently have a ban or regulations in place for online gambling, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of implementing such measures before the next State of the Nation Address (SONA). According to a report by PNA, Senate President Francis Escudero suggests that matters like online gambling can be addressed through alternative platforms.
In recent times, the Filipino administration has been taking steps to protect their nation’s online gaming sector. Just a short while ago, the local administration of Cebu City outlawed online gambling platforms and also restricted VPN usage on publicly issued internet connections.
It’s not unexpected that the Philippine administration is implementing rules rather than outright prohibiting internet gambling within the nation. As per a recent report by PAGCOR, the government reaps more than 100 billion pesos in revenue from online casinos. Moreover, it supports employment for approximately 32,000 individuals.
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2025-07-30 09:10