The ban on online gambling in the Philippines has stirred up controversy again. Industry data indicates that a complete halt to legal online gambling operations could lead to the direct loss of over 50,000 jobs and deal a severe blow to the already pressured Philippine economy.
According to "Philstar" and related industry bodies, the legal online gambling industry generated more than 112 billion pesos (approximately 1.94 billion US dollars) in fiscal revenue for the government in 2024. The industry not only directly employs tens of thousands of local workers but also makes substantial contributions to national finances through regular taxation and social donations. Data shows that licensed gambling platforms have paid 16.6 billion pesos (approximately 287 million US dollars) to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to support the national health insurance system; they also contributed 46.32 billion pesos (approximately 802 million US dollars) in dividend income to the national treasury.
In addition to the aforementioned taxes and dividends, gambling operators have also provided 12.37 billion pesos (approximately 214 million US dollars) in social project funding through the Office of the President, and paid more than 5.9 billion pesos (approximately 102 million US dollars) in direct taxes to the tax bureau. Although the gambling industry accounts for only 0.79% of the national total household consumption of 20.1 trillion pesos (approximately 348 billion US dollars), its role in employment, fiscal, and social assistance cannot be ignored.
Despite clear data, some Philippine legislators still push for a complete gambling ban, citing reasons such as public order and social morals. However, industry representatives believe that the government should target unlicensed illegal platforms, not the compliant, regulated, and licensed operators. Tonet Quiogue, CEO and legal advisor of Arden Consult, pointed out that if legal platforms are banned, gambling activities will inevitably go underground, users will lose legal protection, and the government will lose revenue and regulatory capabilities. He cited Colombia and Argentina as examples, where the introduction of regulatory systems reduced the illegal gambling market share from over 80% to less than 15%, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of legalization.
According to data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the gambling industry generated 25.52 billion pesos (approximately 442 million US dollars) for the government in just the first quarter of 2025, with electronic games and electronic bingo contributing more than half. Meanwhile, since the government strengthened industry regulation in 2022, gambling license revenue has rapidly increased from 12.3 billion pesos (approximately 213 million US dollars) in 2022 to over 54 billion pesos (approximately 935 million US dollars) in 2024, reflecting the huge potential of a regulated market.
Industry analysts point out that with the current government debt in the Philippines already high at 16.4 trillion pesos (approximately 2840 billion US dollars), fiscal revenue faces tremendous pressure. In this context, legal online gambling not only provides a significant source of tax revenue but also drives employment in IT, customer service, compliance, and marketing sectors. Abruptly banning this industry would be akin to cutting off one's arm during a period of economic pressure, potentially triggering a chain of negative effects.
