On July 7, 2025, the Presidential Palace of the Philippines held a press conference to respond to the government's recent policy focus. Among them, the policy signal on taxing online gambling has attracted widespread attention.
Vice Presidential Spokesperson Claire Castro stated that President Marcos does not oppose the taxation proposal on online gambling suggested by the Ministry of Finance, provided that the policy is thoroughly studied and clearly aimed at improving the living conditions of ordinary families. She pointed out that the purpose of this tax is to "limit gambling addiction" while maintaining support for licensed legal platforms, without interfering with their normal operations.
This statement is interpreted as a major shift in the government's approach to regulating online gambling. The media believes that the policy is gradually shifting from "comprehensive suppression" to "precise targeting," focusing on unlicensed illegal platforms while giving legal platforms space to "develop within regulations."
Analysts point out that this policy adjustment is expected to find a balance between economy and regulation: on one hand, it will increase fiscal revenue through taxation, and on the other hand, it will stabilize the legal gambling industry, avoiding excessive suppression that could lead to foreign capital flight or unemployment surges and other negative impacts.
The online gambling industry in the Philippines has developed rapidly in recent years and has become an important source of national finance and employment. This policy adjustment is seen as a measured reform, indicating that future regulation will be more orderly.
The Presidential Palace emphasized that the taxation plan of the Ministry of Finance aims to control online games, especially those that can evolve into gambling. Claire noted that the President understands the potential risks of gambling addiction to individuals and families, and he will not easily reject the plan if it is thoroughly evaluated.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is drafting further policies to limit the public's access, especially young people, to online gambling platforms.
Additionally, several members of Congress have proposed bills to prohibit the binding of e-wallets with online gambling. House Bill No. 721, submitted by five members, aims to sever the direct connection between electronic payments and online gambling.
The Senate also has similar initiatives, with Senator Zhang Qiaowei proposing a bill to prohibit the use of e-wallets for online gambling and to raise the participation age from 18 to 21, while setting higher thresholds for recharges and bets to enhance control.
According to official data, the overall gambling industry revenue in the Philippines reached 1041.2 billion pesos in the first quarter of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 27.44%, with online games showing particularly significant growth.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation is positive about this attitude, believing that strengthened regulation will help the industry's long-term stable development.
