MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said his administration will not hastily impose a total ban on online gambling, stressing that the government must first weigh its social costs, economic implications, and possible alternatives through wide-ranging consultations.
“[The] ban will not take care of the problem. We have to be a little bit more measured in our response,” Marcos said, underscoring that the issue extends beyond prohibition and requires deeper understanding of the root causes.
The President explained that inputs will be sought from multiple sectors, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), educators, parents, law enforcement, and addiction specialists, to determine the best course of action.
“What is the problem? Is the problem online gambling? Or is the problem na-a-addict ang mga tao (people get addicted to it)? … That’s the problem. So let’s solve that problem,” he added.
Malacañang disclosed that the government is set to organize a policy forum—internally referred to as a “conclave”—to gather perspectives from stakeholders, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The forum will examine whether the economic benefits of online gambling outweigh its social costs.
Citing the example of e-sabong (online cockfighting), which was banned in 2022, Marcos questioned whether its prohibition truly resolved the issues associated with it.
“If it comes down to a ban, then we will ban. But if there are better solutions than a ban, we will take those on,” he said.
The President emphasized that his administration’s decision will be based on “careful deliberation” rather than “immediate, reactionary measures.”/PN
