A group of 14 licensed Philippine online gaming operators is calling for stronger regulation rather than an outright ban, asserting that such a prohibition would push Filipino players into the black market and jeopardize the country's economic gains.

As Congress debates proposals to outlaw online gaming or restrict payment channels, the group said in a joint statement on Wednesday, July 9, that the current legislative proposals fail to address the core issue.

“Prohibition does not erase online gaming. It only erases the safeguards that protect the Filipino people. The reality is clear: players will continue to play. The choice is whether they do so on secure, licensed platforms that follow regulations, or on black-market sites that answer to no one,” the group said.

The firms that signed the statement are: World Platinum Technologies Inc. AB Leisure Exponent, Inc., Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc., Gamemaster Integrated, Inc., Lucky Taya Gaming Corp., Stotsenberg Leisure Park & Hotel Corporation, Igo Digital High Technology Inc., Megabet Corp., Gavin Ventures Inc., Gotech Entertainment Inc., Meta Interactive Software Solutions, Inc., Nextstage Entertainment Inc., Webzoid System Solutions Corporation, and Trojan Wells Entertainment Corp.

On Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that President Marcos was pushing for an improved policy on online gambling due to growing concerns over addiction among household members.

Castro said the chief executive sympathizes with families affected by online gambling addiction, adding that the President was also looking into the issue to develop a more effective policy regarding online gambling.

In particular, she said the president was considering the Department of Finance's proposal to regulate and tax online gaming platforms.

Meanwhile, the operators said that the licensed online gaming sector in the Philippines already implements some of the strictest protections in Asia.

These measures include stringent Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and multi-factor authentication protocols, checking players against Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s National Database of Restricted Persons, enforcing a minimum age of 21 years old, providing self-exclusion tools and real-time monitoring for at-risk behavior, and imposing advertising restrictions that prohibit predatory claims.

The industry also noted its contributions to national revenue, job creation, and technology development. 
“Every peso played on a licensed platform supports public services - schools, hospitals, roads - and helps keep Filipino families safe through regulation and oversight,” they said, adding that “every peso spent on an illegal site is money stolen from communities and funneled straight to illegal operators who ignore our laws.”

Drawing on global examples, the group pointed out that 177 out of 195 countries worldwide choose to regulate online gaming, with only 18 nations, including North Korea, Iran, and Somalia, maintaining total bans that have failed to eradicate underground gaming.

The United States, for instance, reversed a 2006 federal ban in 2013 to regain control of the market, subsequently generating over $71.9 billion in revenues and more than $15 billion in taxes. 
“Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina have all seen the same: that a prohibition fuels crime; regulation reclaims it,” the group said.

Domestically, the numbers tell a similar story. Since regulated online gaming expanded in 2022, Pagcor’s license fee collections alone have soared from ₱12.3 billion to ₱54 billion in 2024, directly funding national projects.

Pagcor’s total revenues hit ₱112 billion last year, with online gaming driving nearly half of that. Furthermore, over 50,000 Filipinos are employed in the sector, many in high-value roles such as technology, cybersecurity, creative design, and artificial intelligence.

The licensed operators warned that “a reckless ban, or cutting off legitimate payment channels, would destroy this progress overnight, wiping out thousands of jobs and handing the entire market to illegal sites.”

They are urging lawmakers to strengthen existing regulations by implementing tighter age and identity verification, clear limits for at-risk players, stronger anti-money laundering safeguards, faster site takedowns for illegal operators, and expanded public education on player rights and responsible play.

“Let’s be clear: the real enemy is not regulated gaming. It is the rise of illegal operators who put profits over Filipino welfare. Legal operators do not fear tougher rules, they welcome them. What they fear is surrendering our digital future to the black market,” the group noted.