Philippine House of Representatives bill targets youth exposure to online gambling
Proposed law seeks age restrictions, betting limits and tighter platform regulation.
Key points:
– Bill limits online gambling access to adults aged 21 and above
– E-wallets and apps to be barred from advertising gambling content
– PAGCOR to oversee enforcement and betting limits
A new bill filed in the Philippine House of Representatives aims to curb youth access to online gambling platforms, citing increasing cases of gambling addiction among young Filipinos.
As reported by ABS-CBN, House Bill No. 1351, also known as the Kontra E-Sugal Bill, was introduced by the Anakbayan party-list. The bill proposes a nationwide regulatory framework that would limit access to gambling platforms to individuals aged 21 and above. Registration on such platforms would require valid Government-issued identification.
The legislation also aims to prohibit e-wallets and “super apps” from promoting gambling-related content. Advertising of online gambling in public areas would be banned.
Under the bill, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) would be tasked with setting daily, weekly and monthly loss limits. Exceeding these limits would trigger an automatic suspension of a user’s account.
A 10% tax on online gambling is also proposed, with proceeds allocated to addiction rehabilitation, education and enforcement efforts.
Good to know: The proposed law echoes similar initiatives across Southeast Asia, where governments are stepping up controls over online gambling due to addiction risks and underage participation
PAGCOR would manage a national self-exclusion registry, allowing individuals to voluntarily bar themselves from gambling platforms. The bill emphasises the need for a “comprehensive, evidence-based and multi-sectoral” approach to reduce gambling-related harm.
Separately, House Bill 721 seeks to block e-wallets from promoting online betting. In the Senate, Sen. Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano have filed a counterpart measure that includes penalties for operators and proposes an Online Gambling Control Task Force under the Office of the President.
PAGCOR has pledged to support any future laws and continue its efforts to tackle illegal online gambling activity.
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