Amid the growing ease of access to online gambling, a bill has been filed seeking stricter regulations to address rising cases of addiction that have led to financial ruin and the breakdown of Filipino families.
On the first day of the 20th Congress, Sen. Win Gatchalian filed a measure seeking to regulate online gambling platforms, including e-sabong and betting applications linked to e-wallets, to address the surge in gambling-related mental health issues and financial problems.
The measure comes in the wake of incidents tied to illegal gambling operations, including the reported disappearance of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts allegedly connected to illicit e-sabong activities.
“Maraming pamilya ang nasira ang kinabukasan dahil sa online gambling, na lalo pang pinadali ng mga e-wallet – halimbawa na lang ang Scatter,” the lawmaker said.
The proposed bill would prohibit gambling operators from sponsoring public events and making campaign contributions, while mandating regulators to allocate a portion of collected regulatory fees toward the establishment of gambling addiction rehabilitation centers nationwide.
To discourage impulsive and easy gambling access, the measure also seeks to impose a minimum cash-in requirement of ₱10,000 per transaction on gambling platforms.
Gatchalian stressed that the rise of e-wallets has made online gambling more accessible, worsening its adverse effects on families and communities.
“Due to its accessibility, online gambling activities have magnified the dangers from gambling and have been linked to the erosion of our moral fibers,” he said, noting its ties to mental health issues, addictive behavior, and increased crime rates.
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