Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently made a public statement on the controversy over online gambling, clearly stating that the government currently has no intention of completely banning legal gambling businesses, including the "scatter" platform.
He emphasized that compliant gambling has positive effects on national tax revenue, employment, and economic development, and the government will continue to support its regulated operation.
Marcos pointed out that although online gambling does indeed raise concerns at the societal level, the government prefers to prevent abuse through strict regulation rather than a blanket ban. He stressed that the Filipino people have the rational judgment not to confuse legal entertainment with illegal operations.
The Presidential Office further explained that relevant departments will continue to strengthen supervision to prevent money laundering, fraud, and other criminal activities. For illegal online gambling platforms, law enforcement agencies will continue to crack down hard to ensure the industry operates healthily within a transparent and legal framework.
Currently, the online gambling industry in the Philippines remains a legally operable sector, with no major adjustments in government policy. Officials emphasized that they will maintain the vitality of the legal gambling industry while cautiously controlling potential risks, seeking to balance economic benefits and social security.
