Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, in a recent hearing, pressured the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to adopt tougher measures to curb the proliferation of illegal online gambling sites. He described the growth of these sites as "mushrooms" — "shut down today, pop up tomorrow, endlessly. We must eradicate them completely." Gatchalian cited data indicating that last month alone, over 32 million Filipinos participated in online gambling, nearly half of the country's adult population, a 400% surge from 8.2 million at the end of 2024. Plainly put, online casinos are harvesting Filipino adults at an alarming rate. Interested in the latest tug-of-war over gambling regulation in Southeast Asia? PASA's official website continues to track policy and data dynamics.
Startling Data: 32 Million Players, Half the Adult Population
Gatchalian's data revealed at the hearing was shocking:
Monthly online gambling participation: Over 32 million
Total Filipino adult population: 79.6 million
Proportion: Nearly 50%
Growth rate: A 400% increase from 8.2 million at the end of 2024
"Online gambling magnifies the harms of gambling, erodes morals, leads to mental health issues, financial crises, increased addictive behaviors, and rising crime rates," warned Gatchalian.
Enforcement Dilemma: 97% of Illegal Servers Abroad, Shut Down and Reopened
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center revealed that it has successfully banned about 50,000 online gambling sites. However, the problem is that as much as 97% of illegal operators' servers are located abroad, beyond the jurisdiction of local law enforcement.
Executive Director Renato Palacio suggested:
Expanding judicial assistance treaties to cover cybercrime
Establishing dedicated "cyber diplomats" to strengthen international cooperation in digital security
This means that banning websites is only a symptomatic treatment; the real "root" is abroad, requiring international coordination to reach.
Policy Contradiction: Both Blocking and Easing
Gatchalian has long advocated for stronger regulation of online gambling rather than a complete ban, believing that prohibitions only push players towards more covert black markets. He supports several measures in the 2025 Online Gambling Regulation Act:
Daily transaction limits
Gaming time restrictions
Biometric identity verification
These measures aim to "curb gambling addiction, especially among the youth." He also supports legislation to sever e-wallet transactions with iGaming, calling it a "milestone in responsible digital service usage."
However, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), facing a 49% revenue drop, is trying to push for the removal of these payment restrictions. The tightening of regulations and financial dependency are forming a sharp contradiction.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original deep gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
