Senate Hearings on Online Gambling Ban in the Philippines to be Headed by Senator Tulfo
The Philippine Senate has placed Senate Bill No. 47, also known as the Anti-Online Gambling Act, among its top 10 priority measures as of late July and early August 2025. This bill, filed by Senator Joel Villanueva, proposes a full ban on online gambling in the country, with penalties for participants in illegal online gambling reaching up to six months imprisonment or fines of up to ₱500,000 [1][3][4][5].
The bill has garnered support from various senators, including Migz Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano, Robin Padilla, Bato dela Rosa, Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and JV Ejercito, who back the ban [1]. The reasons for this support are rooted in concerns about the social impact of online gambling, such as gambling addiction and the proliferation of linked illegal loan applications. Proponents believe that banning online gambling is a way to protect citizens from these harms and to curb illicit financial activities [4][5].
However, discussions within the government are ongoing about the possibility of regulating rather than banning online gambling to boost government revenues. The gambling industry generates significant tax income—estimated at ₱200 billion (~$3.4 billion) in 2025, with about half from online platforms. Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto suggests that increasing government shares of gross gaming revenues and raising licensing fees could be more beneficial economically than an outright ban [1][2]. He also estimates that fully regulated online gambling could bring in an extra ₱20 billion annually.
PAGCOR, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., insists that legal online gambling platforms require ID verification and block users under 21. They share the concerns of Senator Villanueva and Secretary Recto and advocate for tighter regulation, including expanding regulatory powers [1][2].
The Presidential position remains somewhat ambiguous as online gambling was not explicitly mentioned in the most recent State of the Nation Address. Hearings are ongoing to decide the best approach.
Journalist Erwin Tulfo, while personally advocating for a stop to online gambling, is open to further discussion if a full ban proves too costly for the government [2]. The future of online gambling in the Philippines remains uncertain, with the Senate debating between a ban and tighter regulation.
- The ongoing debates in the Philippine Senate, as reflected in Senate Bill No. 47, highlight the intersection of casino-and-gambling, policy-and-legislation, and politics, as senators such as Villanueva, Zubiri, Hontiveros, Cayetano, Padilla, Dela Rosa, Pangilinan, Aquino, and Ejercito deliberate over the proposed ban on online gambling.
- The discussions about online gambling in the Philippine Senate, particularly concerning the Anti-Online Gambling Act, are not just about gaming-policies, but also involve broader considerations such as general-news topics like social impact, government revenues, and regulatory powers, as exemplified by the contrasting views between Senator Villanueva, Finance Secretary Recto, and PAGCOR.
