Philippines Moves Closer Toward Regulation of Digital Gambling

The Philippines may soon introduce a new tax on online gambling, along with stricter rules on how people access digital gaming platforms. As reported by BusinessWorld, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said his department is actively reviewing proposals to tighten regulation of the online gaming sector.

Good to know

• A new online gambling tax is under review by the Department of Finance.
• Lawmakers want tighter limits on e-wallet access and gambling account funding.
• Multiple bills have been proposed to raise age limits and cash-in thresholds.

Secretary Recto acknowledged growing public concern around online gambling. “Given this, we are already studying and will propose an online gaming tax,” he said, though he did not offer further details. He also mentioned that authorities are exploring other measures to reduce what he described as “unimpeded and practically unrestricted access to gambling.”

Some of the possible rules under review include limits on how long users can gamble, caps on how much they can deposit, and restrictions preventing government officials from participating. Recto emphasized that any such steps would require thorough review by regulators. “A careful study must be done by regulatory authorities on the administrative feasibility of implementing these proposals,” he said.

Meanwhile, several lawmakers are also pushing for tighter control over the online gaming space. Representative Jonathan Keith Flores is drafting a bill aimed at reducing the link between mobile e-wallets and gambling platforms. He expressed concern that platforms like GCash and Maya have made it easier for users to fund their gambling accounts without much friction.

These e-wallets often include sections that link directly to online casinos and sports betting platforms. Many of these platforms allow instant deposits using e-wallets, with shared information often used to complete the registration process.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is also making moves on the issue. He has filed a bill that would raise the minimum age for online gambling from 18 to 21. The proposed legislation also includes raising the minimum cash-in requirement to PHP10,000 (about $178) and setting a PHP5,000 minimum for top-ups.

Gatchalian argued that online gambling’s easy access has amplified its risks, saying it has “caused an increase in mental health problems, financial problems, addictive behaviour, vices, and crime rates.”

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