The government is looking to introduce new regulations, such as the introduction of a higher minimum bet and an entry levy, to tighten access to online gambling.

Amid continued calls against online gambling, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go said the administration could look at several measures for stricter regulations on digital gambling platforms, which have grown in popularity in recent years.

“The regulation that I believe should be seriously considered is raising the minimum bet and raising the minimum entry point,” he said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Economic Forum 2025.

Under the minimum bet, Go said there should be a starting point as to how much a gambler can spend to access online games.

For instance, he said there could be a minimum bet of ₱100, instead of the current allowable bet of as low as ₱1 on certain gambling sites.

The official said a minimum bet could help dissuade bettors from taking an unnecessary risk with their hard-earned money.

Alongside this, he said the government could consider adding a minimum entry point to online gambling to further discourage players, similar to that of Singapore.

For example, he said a player should have an entry level of ₱1,000, alongside the minimum bet, before they are allowed to partake in gambling.

Based on local media, Singapore citizens and permanent residents who wish to enter casinos are required to pay an entry levy of S$150 per day or an annual fee of S$3,000.

Several lawmakers have urged President Marcos to beef up the government’s policies against online gambling, from strict regulations to an outright ban, to address its supposed spread of addiction and other harmful effects.

As it stands, the Marcos administration is currently mulling over the next steps in its policy on online gambling, with a proposed prohibition currently off the table.

After all, state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is projected to have a revenue of more than ₱200 billion this year, 30 percent of which, or about ₱60 billion, is sourced from online gambling, according to Go.

Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto said the administration is scheduled to hold a summit on this matter soon to discuss the issue through a whole-of-government approach.

While policies are not yet concrete, Go said the government can order gambling platforms to have a stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) measure for all players.

Specifically, he said these sites should ensure that those below 21 years old, as well as government employees, are not allowed to gamble.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona echoed the proposal, adding that the government should make access to gambling platforms “more difficult.”

Remolona suggested that those who are receiving government assistance, popularly known as “ayuda” (aid), to also be banned from gambling.

“I completely agree with the proposals of my colleagues, but particularly the more informed regulation, I think those are good ones,” said Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Balisacan earlier called for more safeguards against online gambling, including the prospect of new taxes, to limit access.