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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Grabe na': Raffy Tulfo to file bill seeking total ban on online gambling

'Grabe na': Raffy Tulfo to file bill seeking total ban on online gambling

Published Jul 15, 2025 02:12 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Raffy Tulfo is set to file a bill seeking a total ban on online gambling, citing its harmful effects on families and youth.
Calling it an epidemic, Senator Raffy Tulfo is set to file a bill seeking a total ban on online gambling in the country.
Senator Raffy Tulfo speaks during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on July 15, 2025. He called for a total ban on online gambling, stressing that it leads to addiction, financial troubles, and serious issues within Filipino families. Tulfo urged the government to take immediate action to protect the public from its negative impact. (Mark Balmores)
Senator Raffy Tulfo speaks during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on July 15, 2025. He called for a total ban on online gambling, stressing that it leads to addiction, financial troubles, and serious issues within Filipino families. Tulfo urged the government to take immediate action to protect the public from its negative impact. (Mark Balmores)
"Total stop, hindi yung (not just) strictly regulated. For me, it has to stop. Grabe na (This is too much)," Tulfo said in a press conference on Tuesday, July 15. He is set to file his bill next week.
"Kailan tayo titigil kung bagsak na ang ating bansa, ang ating lipunan? (When will we stop, when our country and our society have already collapsed?) We have to step on the brakes right now," he added.
Tulfo said that he wants all sorts of online gambling banned, even those accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
The senator said it has come to a point that even kids can access gambling apps.
He stated that this adds to the present problem with casinos, which are mushooming left and right. He said many lives and businesses have been ruined because people get addicted to gambling in casinos.
"Now here comes online gambling, and it’s not just adults getting addicted—the alarming part is that even young people, students, as young as 10 years old, nine years old, have been caught up in it. This is too much," he said in Filipino.
He also called on Pagcor to stop running ads for online gambling.
"On my way here from my house, I counted seven billboards advertising online gambling—seven. So I’m appealing to Pagcor and even to the Ad Board: do your part for now while I work on drafting a bill," he said.
"Of course, that will take some time. While the executive branch is still figuring out what to do, take action now—stop all advertisements for online gambling," he added.
Pagcor has ordered all gaming licensees, operators, suppliers, and system administrators to take down all gambling-related billboards and other out-of-home advertisements. They have until Aug. 15 to comply.
Tulfo added that lawmakers involved in online gambling, even if it's legal, should be investigated and even charged before the Office of the Ombudsman.
"Kahit nasabihin nating legal, dapat ang mga politiko ay nagsisilbi sa taong bayan. Ang pangit naman yung kanilang pinagsisilbihan, yun yung tinatamaan ng kanilang negosyo o involvement, yun yung nasisira ang pamilya. Yun yung nawawasak ang pamilya dahil nalululong sa sugal (Even if we say it’s legal, politicians are supposed to serve the people. It’s unacceptable if the very people they are meant to serve are the ones being harmed by their businesses or involvement—families are being destroyed because of gambling addiction)," he added.
On the other hand, Tulfo said that he's hoping that one day, or in the next few days, President Marcos will realize how serious the problem of online gambling is.  
"Di naman siguro masama mangarap, pangarap ko sana sa SONA (State of the Nation Address) baka pwedeng isali, pwede mong isama yung tungkol dito sa problema sa online gambling (There’s nothing wrong with dreaming, I suppose. My hope is that maybe in the SONA, this issue about online gambling could be included, that you could mention it as part of the address)," he added.
Senators Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel "Migz" have previously filed separate bills also aiming to outlaw online gambling.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to regulate online gambling. 
His 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.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, has filed a bill seeking to ban online gambling access in e-wallets and super apps.
Aside from banning these games from being played through e-wallets and super apps, her bill also bars those aged below 21 from online gambling platforms and prohibits the advertisement of online gambling in public spaces, tri-media, and social media.

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