Palace: Marcos open to tax, tighter rules on online gambling

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Screengrab from Bongbong Marcos/Facebook Video)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is supportive of proposals to regulate and possibly tax online gaming platforms, especially if aimed at protecting public welfare and addressing gambling addiction, Malacañang said Monday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos acknowledges the dangers of unregulated online gambling and will not oppose well-studied measures and policies to control the sector.

“Ang proposal po na ito ng DOF [Department of Finance] na magkaroon po ng tax para po marestriktuhan ang mga online gaming ay para naman po sa ikabubuti ng pamilyang Pilipino (This DOF proposal to impose a tax to restrict online gaming is for the good of the Filipino family),” Castro said in a press briefing at the Palace.

“Batid po ng Pangulo ang maaaring mangyari sa mga gumon sa sugal at hindi niya naman po tututulan basta po mayroon pong sapat na pag-aaral (The President is aware of the possible effects on gambling addicts and will not oppose it as long as the proposal is well-studied),” she added.

Beyond taxing legitimate gaming platforms, Castro said the administration would also intensify efforts to crack down illegal or unregistered online gambling operations.

Castro also addressed growing calls in Congress to impose stricter regulations or even ban online gambling altogether, saying that the President is carefully monitoring developments.

Online gambling has been under scrutiny in the country amid concerns over rising addiction, social costs, and proliferation of illegal operators.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri recently filed the Anti-Online Gambling Act pushing for a total ban, while other lawmakers seek tighter regulation through licensing and taxation.