Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposal to tax online gaming operators, provided it is supported by thorough research.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a briefing that the President is mindful of the risks of gambling addiction and is open to the tax as long as it is well-studied.

“Ang Pangulo po ay nakikinig kung anong nangyayari sa ating mga kababayan at kung anuman po ang bill na ipapasa nila, ito’y pag-aaralang mabuti kung ito’y makakabuti sa ating ekonomiya and at the same time makakabuti para sa taumbayan (The President is listening to what’s happening to our fellow citizens, and whatever bill they pass will be carefully studied to see if it will benefit our economy and, at the same time, serve the best interest of the people),” she said.

Castro added that the government also intends to intensify efforts against unregistered or illegal online gambling platforms.

When asked whether the President is giving more attention to the issue in light of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s proposed Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025, which seeks a nationwide ban, Castro said discussions are ongoing but gave no assurance it would be included in Marcos’ upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Opo, pero hindi po natin masasabi kung ito po’y makakasama sa SONA. Wala pa po akong detalye kung ano po ang sasabihin at ipapahayag ng ating Pangulo sa SONA (Yes, it’s being looked into, but I don’t have details yet on what the President will say during the SONA. These suggestions will be relayed to him),” she said.

Zubiri is among several lawmakers calling for tougher action on online gambling.

Senator JV Ejercito recently warned that online gaming now poses greater risks than Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), and called for tighter regulation.

Also, Senator Win Gatchalian called for stricter regulation of online gambling to address the growing addiction among Filipinos, which he said has contributed to various social problems.

“Due to its accessibility, online gambling activities have magnified the dangers of gambling and have been linked to the erosion of our moral fibers, as it has caused an increase in mental health problems, financial problems, addictive behavior, vices, and crime rates,” he added.