All Eyes on July 28 as Online Gambling Decision in Philippines Might Come

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is expected to offer direction on the future of online gambling in the Philippines during his upcoming state-of-the-nation address. As the debate continues between calls for stricter controls and outright prohibition, industry players are watching closely.

Good to know

• Online gambling and bingo made up 49.4% of total gaming revenue in Q1 2025.
• Online gambling in the Philippines grew 110% year-on-year to PHP47.2 billion.
• E-games contributed 0.68% to the country’s GDP in Q1 2025—higher than in many developed markets.

Uncertainty continues to swirl around the future of online gambling in the Philippines. Maybank Securities Inc. released a memo ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s state-of-the-nation address, suggesting the speech may finally bring clarity on whether the country leans toward tighter regulation or opts to shut the industry down completely.

Analyst Raffy Mendoza from Maybank noted that the address, scheduled for July 28, is expected to outline the government’s stance. He believes a regulated path would make more sense than a full ban, especially given the sector’s growing contribution to the economy.

While President Marcos has not made a final decision yet, some lawmakers have been pushing for a full ban. Two weeks ago, reports surfaced that he was reviewing those calls, prompting speculation on what his administration might do next.

Maybank pointed out that e-games have quietly become a bigger part of the national economy. In Q1 2025 alone, they accounted for 0.68% of the Philippines’ nominal GDP. That may sound minor, but it is significantly higher than the 0.04% to 0.30% range seen in countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US where online gambling is already legal.

The memo also noted a lack of clear data showing the social downsides of online gambling in the Philippines. Still, Maybank acknowledged that a ban remains a real possibility, especially considering how other sectors like E-Sabong and POGOs were previously handled.

Meanwhile, revenue numbers from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) show how much online gambling has expanded. In Q1 2025, gaming industry gross gaming revenue (GGR) hit PHP104.12 billion, a 27% increase from the previous year. Online gambling and bingo combined were responsible for nearly half of that.

For the first time, online gaming overtook physical casinos in GGR contribution—claiming 49.4% compared to the 47.3% share held by land-based casinos. That shift was especially strong in Q4 2023 when e-games tripled quarter-over-quarter, hitting PHP18.4 billion.

Now all eyes turn to July 28. Whether the President chooses to regulate or restrict, the outcome could reshape the entire landscape of online gambling in the Philippines.

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