Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri is calling for a total ban on online gambling in the Philippines, warning that the country is on the brink of a deepening crisis fueled by digital gambling addiction.
The senator filed the Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025, which seeks to completely outlaw all forms of online gambling in the country amid the growing addiction especially among youths and vulnerable Filipinos.
In a statement, Zubiri said that online gambling has become a “silent epidemic,” especially among the youth, citing cases where children are learning to deceive their parents and steal money just to place bets online.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. Iba na ang itsura ng gambling addiction ngayon. Hindi na ito yung lulong ang isang tao sa casino o sa sabungan. It now looks like a kid with a phone under the covers at 2 a.m., losing the family’s grocery money on an online casino site,” the former Senate president said.
The proposed measure all form of online gabling are prohibited including online casinos, betting apps, and websites accessible through mobile phones, tablets, and computers, whether operated locally or abroad.
Zubiri likened the current online gambling landscape to the once-problematic Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which were forced to shut down after reports of widespread social and criminal issues.
“We already shut the doors on POGOs for the damage they caused. But an even more dangerous problem has crept into our homes: online gambling that targets our own people,” he said.
Under the proposed bill include mandatory blocking of gambling websites and app removal by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), mobile networks, and digital platforms within 72 hours of notice from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Following this, violators will face steep penalties, including fines reaching up to P100 million, suspension or even revocation of business licenses.
“Ang dami nating nakikitang ads ng online casino sa ating mga payment wallets. Ineendorso pa ng mga sikat na artista. Yung mga memes ng tinatawag nilang ‘scatter,’ makikita mo sa social media. These memes make a parody of people losing a lot of money in online gambling,” Zubiri stated.
“Ang masakit dito, mga bata na ang nahuhumaling. Madali para sa kanila na magpanggap ng edad, gumawa ng fake account at makapasok sa mga site na ito. There is something inherently wrong with the system, that is why I filed this measure to put an end to this once and for all,” Zubiri added.
