Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. recently made it clear that he will not impose a total ban on online gambling, but prefers to implement stricter regulations under an open framework.
Malacañang Palace Press Secretary Claire Castro revealed on August 12 that the President plans to consult with relevant stakeholders and representatives of the Catholic Church on online gambling policies, but the meeting time has not yet been finalized.
Marcos emphasized that online gambling is not the root problem itself, but the key lies in its social impact on minors and gambling addiction groups. The government plans to establish a dedicated agency to formulate a unified policy and invite the church to participate, responding to the long-term concerns of religious groups. This stance has reassured the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) market, but also indicates that regulation will become stricter.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ralph Recto announced that the Department of Finance is studying the introduction of a "tax amnesty" plan and strengthening online gambling regulation through a whole-government participation model.
Measures include increasing online gaming fees, prohibiting government officials and state-owned enterprises from engaging in the gambling industry, and investigating the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its substantial investment in DigiPlus Interactive.
Industry analysts believe that this combination has a "double-edged" effect: on one hand, tax amnesty and fee adjustments can increase government revenue in the short term; on the other hand, strict regulation and capital scrutiny will accelerate the compliance process in the gambling industry, squeezing the space for non-compliant and gray capital. In the future, the Philippine gambling industry may be reshaped under a dual-track policy of "open access + high-pressure compliance".
