MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is supportive of proposals to impose tighter regulations and possible taxation on online gambling platforms, especially if such measures are aimed at safeguarding public welfare and combating gambling addiction, the Palace said.
Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President acknowledges the dangers posed by unregulated digital gambling and is open to policies—particularly from the Department of Finance (DOF)—that are backed by comprehensive studies and crafted with the Filipino family in mind.
“Ang proposal po na ito ng DOF [Department of Finance] na magkaroon po ng tax para po marestriktuhan ang mga online gaming ay para naman po sa ikabubuti ng pamilyang Pilipino,” Castro said.
“Batid po ng Pangulo ang maaaring mangyari sa mga gumon sa sugal at hindi niya naman po tututulan basta po mayroon pong sapat na pag-aaral,” she added.
Castro also noted that the President wants law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts against illegal or unlicensed online gambling operations, which continue to proliferate alongside legitimate platforms.
Amid growing calls in Congress for either stricter regulations or an outright ban on online gambling, Castro assured that President Marcos is closely monitoring the issue and remains open to legislative action that will mitigate the sector’s social costs.
Online gambling has come under increasing scrutiny nationwide due to reports of addiction, criminal syndicates exploiting platforms, and its adverse effects on mental health and family stability./PN
