Philippines' Minister of the Interior and Local Government, Jonathan Malaya, recently announced a comprehensive ban on civil servants from participating in any form of online gambling. To prevent civil servants from becoming addicted to online gambling, Malaya plans to submit the names and phone numbers of violators to major online gambling platforms to directly block their accounts and cut off gambling channels.
In an interview with DZMM radio, Malaya stated, "If physical casinos prohibit civil servants from gambling, online casinos should be no exception." He admitted to having seen police and government employees gambling online using their mobile phones during their breaks, "Whether online or offline, civil servants should not engage in gambling even in their free time."
According to Notice No. 082 of 2025, this ban applies to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), National Youth Commission (NYC), Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), and other units. Violators will face suspension and may even be subject to administrative litigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Malaya half-jokingly said, "Repeat offenders first get suspended, then 'explain why', and finally—death penalty! Of course, it's just a joke." He emphasized that he is not against online gambling as entertainment, but civil servants participating in online gambling activities approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is illegal. Currently, civil servants can still enter cockfighting arenas to watch matches, but are not allowed to bet.
This move has attracted widespread attention and is seen as a strong stance by the Philippine government in curbing online gambling and strengthening discipline and integrity among civil servants, especially against the backdrop of rampant online gambling and persistent illegal POGO operations.
