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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Moral decay, social cost' outweigh online gambling revenue - Dela Rosa

'Moral decay, social cost' outweigh online gambling revenue - Dela Rosa

Published Jul 9, 2025 03:56 pm
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said on Wednesday, July 9, that while the government is earning from it, the revenues from online gambling are not enough to compensate for the moral decay and the social cost that it brings.
Senator Ronald
Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa (Office of Senator Dela Rosa)
"Dapat i-ban yan. Kasi maraming nasisirang buhay diyan (That should be banned because it destroys many lives)," he said in a press conference.
Aside from the case of the missing sabungeros, which is due to e-sabong, Dela Rosa said that he has heard of cases where people took their own lives due to online gambling.
He also stated that stricter regulation is not enough.
"Kasi alam mo yung ingenuity ng Filipinos to go around the bush ay napakagaling. Kaya maisahan pa rin tayo yung regulation dyan, mahirap pa rin. Lalong-lalo na sa online (You know, the ingenuity of Filipinos in finding ways around the system is remarkable. That’s why even with regulations, it’s still difficult to stay ahead, especially when it comes to online platforms)," he said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to regulate online gambling in a bid to curb the growing addiction of many Filipinos to such vice, which has led to numerous social ills.
The measure bans gambling sponsorships of public events and campaign donations. It likewise mandates regulators to allocate a portion of collected regulatory fees toward the establishment of gambling addiction rehabilitation centers and sets a minimum cash-in requirement of ₱10,000 to discourage impulsive and easy access to gambling platforms.
Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, calling it a silent epidemic, recently filed a bill seeking an outright ban on online gambling in the Philippines. Zubiri said that online gambling is quietly harming Filipinos, especially minors and the most vulnerable.
In the bill aptly called the “Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025 that Zubiri filed, he drew a parallel between the threat once posed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and the growing danger of local online gambling platforms.
The proposed measure prohibits all forms of online gambling in the country, not just simple regulation. This includes digital betting platforms, mobile applications, and websites that allow users to place wagers through phones, tablets, and computers.

Related Tags

online gambling Migz Zubiri Bato Dela Rosa Win gatchalian
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