On August 8, Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. publicly stated in Bangalore that the government will not hastily push for a complete ban on online gambling. He emphasized that this is a complex social issue that cannot be solved by a "one-size-fits-all" approach, focusing on addressing gambling addiction rather than simply targeting online gambling itself.
Marcos pointed out that online gambling involves multiple economic, social, and cultural factors, and policy-making must be cautious. He revealed that the government is preparing a policy forum, inviting stakeholders such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Catholic Church, the education sector, parent representatives, the police, and addiction experts to discuss and comprehensively assess the economic contributions and social risks of online gambling.
Using online cockfighting as an example, Marcos questioned whether simply banning it could truly eradicate the problem and stated that if there are more effective alternatives, the government is willing to prioritize them instead of rushing to implement a comprehensive ban. He emphasized that future policies will be based on careful consideration, balancing economic development and social governance to avoid negative consequences due to hasty decisions.
Meanwhile, significant news also came from the Philippine capital market. On August 8, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) announced the latest adjustments to its stock index, with online gambling giant DigiPlus Interactive Corp. entering the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) for the first time, replacing the well-known casino resort operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. The adjustment will take effect on August 18.
The PSEi, as a core indicator reflecting the overall performance of the Philippine stock market, consists of 30 leading listed companies in terms of market value and liquidity. This review covers trading data from July 2024 to June 2025, with DigiPlus standing out due to its market value growth and trading activity. The company's chairman, Yusebio Tanco, stated that this is not only a milestone in the company's development but also a symbol of local enterprises leading in the digital wave.
In addition to the PSEi, several other indices were also adjusted:
PSE Dividend Index: Added The Keepers Holdings Inc. and Puregold Price Club Inc., replacing Figaro Culinary Group and Universal Robina Corp.
PSE Mid Cap Index: Added Asia United Bank, Bloomberry, OceanaGold (Philippines), replacing GMA Network, Petron, and DigiPlus
Sector Indices: Financial sector added National Reinsurance Corp.; Industrial sector added Concepcion Industrial, Citicore Renewable Energy, Vitarich Corp.; Holding sector added ATN Holding Inc.; Mining and Oil sector added Lepanto Consolidated Mining and OceanaGold (Philippines); Services sector removed Pacific Online Systems Corp.
The Philippine Stock Exchange stated that this routine review aims to reflect changes in market structure and investment trends, providing investors with more accurate tracking references for sectors and companies.
