Online gambling won’t be banned in the Philippines after all

Discussions on whether the Philippine government should ban online gaming aren't new. However, it picked up more recently after a Catholic Church bishop vehemently pointed out its culture and social impacts on youths and families. 

Malacañang Palace had acknowledged the issue, and all eyes were on President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2025, for possible news on online gambling prohibition in the Philippines. As it turns out, President Marcos didn’t bring up gambling at all in his address.

During the two-hour SONA event in Manila, President Marcos outlined a range of reforms planned for various sectors like agriculture and healthcare. While he touched upon the economy and promised lower inflation, the conversation never stirred towards online gambling. 

It’s worth noting that it was during last year’s SONA when President Marcos proposed a bill to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and shut down offshore gambling in the country for good. Given how there wasn’t any straight-up mention of online gambling during this year’s event, it’s safe to say a ban is not on the horizon. 

However, this doesn’t mean the government can't impose a ban or regulations on online gambling sometime between now and the next SONA. According to a report by the PNA, Senate President Francis Escuder believes that issues like online gambling can be addressed through other relevant platforms. 

The Philippine government has been enforcing measures to safeguard online gambling in the country. Earlier this year, the Cebu City government banned online gambling sites and VPN access on government-provided internet. 

It’s no surprise that the Philippine government is enforcing regulations instead of outright banning online gambling in the country. According to a recent report from PAGCOR, the government earns over P100 billion from online casinos. It also provides jobs to over 32,000 people.

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