President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears reluctant to impose a total ban on online gambling, warning that it could worsen the problem rather than solve it.
According to the President, prohibiting online gambling outright would only drive operations underground, making them beyond government regulation.
“The first effect of banning it fully is to pull it – put it underground, and then we have no control. ‘Yan talagang wala na tayong regulation,” he said in his BBM Podcast.
Marcos emphasized that the core issue is not the existence of online gambling itself, but its harmful effects on society. He said the government is set to hold dialogues with stakeholders to address these social impacts.
“The problem is not online gambling. The problem[s] are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling,” he said.
The President expressed concern over the growing number of people falling into debt due to gambling, particularly those who cannot afford it. He also raised alarm about minors gaining exposure to gambling activities.
“With online gambling in general, what is the problem we are trying to solve? We’re trying to solve is that na hindi – ‘yun na nga, hindi malubog sa utang ang mga – ‘yung mga hindi naman – wala namang kaya pero napapasubo dahil sa sugal. Mga bata na natututong magsugal. Let’s focus on that. Paano natin patitigilin ‘yan?” Marcos said.
He added that the administration will study the situation carefully and create a concrete plan to address the problem.