What’s different about gambling today? You no longer need to leave your house to go to a casino, a lottery or betting outlet, or even an arena. A few taps and a swipe on your mobile phone, and you’re set.
It’s so easy to wager a few pesos for the chance to win big. The ease of accessing money through an electronic wallet and the ability to place bets for as low as 50 centavos per turn make gambling frictionless, tempting and, thus, attractive for low-wage earners. That’s where the danger lies.
This digital “epidemic” is affecting not just those with money to spare, but also house helpers, drivers, motorcycle taxi riders, store staff and others who can’t afford to lose money on gambling.
Legislators have begun to take notice of this growing scourge. In the House of Representatives, several members proposed under House Bill 721, the Anti-Online Gambling Promotions in E-Wallet Act, rules to stop e-wallet platforms from promoting gambling apps. Once it becomes law, violators will face fines of up to P5 million. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of Information and Communications Technology will have to monitor e-wallet platforms, investigate complaints and enforce the penalties on violators.
In the Senate, another bill by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian sought to prohibit the use of e-wallets for online gambling, increase the online gambling age restriction from 18 to 21 and put a minimum bet of P10,000 and top-up of P5,000. This minimum bet would then be beyond the reach of the majority of those who now do online gambling on their phones.
This problem is not unique to the Philippines. Other countries have also grappled with the dark side of frictionless digital gambling by restricting access and regulating ways to place a bet.
Across Southeast Asia, governments have tightened regulations on online gambling. Singapore has the Gambling Control Act that allows only licensed operators to legally accept bets and payment platforms are required to block unlicensed gambling transactions. In Thailand, where gambling is largely illegal, authorities are working with banks and e-payment services to blacklist known gambling accounts and freeze digital wallets. Indonesia, with its strict anti-gambling laws, has cracked down on apps and platforms that facilitate online betting through mobile payment systems.
These examples show that regulation, combined with platform accountability, can create protections for users, especially the vulnerable. E-wallet companies cannot say they are mere platforms. They provide a network that facilitates social connection and enables activities destructive to society.
For these countries and many more, the path forward is clear: Legislation, regulation and active enforcement. That should be the way forward for the Philippines, too.
Beyond policy and profit from betting lies the human toll. Broken families, rising debt, increased criminality to fund addiction and mental health as collateral damage. These are the effects of a digital gambling “epidemic.” It’s not harmless entertainment; it’s a growing societal threat that must be addressed.