The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently officially responded to the legislative proposal to completely ban online gambling, clearly stating that it will fully support and comply with the regulations. This move is seen as an important signal of a policy "emergency brake" facing the Philippine online gambling industry.
PAGCOR reiterated in its statement that it always respects legislative initiatives that help maintain the public interest, and emphasized: "If Congress passes the gambling ban bill and it is signed into law by the President, PAGCOR will fully perform its regulatory duties and strictly enforce all relevant provisions."
Currently, in the 20th Congress of the Philippines, several senators have submitted bills related to the management of online gambling, some of which advocate for a complete ban on existing online gambling platforms. Senator Gaichalian, as one of the main initiators, pointed out that online gambling is causing addiction to spread and is leading to family breakdowns, rising crime, and other serious social problems, urgently requiring legislation to curb it.
As the nationally authorized gambling regulatory and operating agency, PAGCOR has been continuously facing disputes over the legality and regulatory effectiveness of online gambling in recent years. This stance means that once the bill takes effect, PAGCOR will stop issuing and renewing licenses to online platforms.
With the Ministry of Finance also brewing plans to increase the tax burden on online gambling, the regulatory environment for gambling in the Philippines continues to tighten. Various signs indicate that the online gambling industry may be facing a fundamental policy change.
