Speaking at the “Kapihan with the Media” in Bengaluru, India, Marcos said the meeting will bring together representatives from the Church, educators, parents, law enforcement, and addiction specialists.

 “Internally, we are calling it a ‘conclave’ to put all of the interested parties. CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ members) have been very vocal on their position, so they must be heard,” Marcos said. 

He cautioned against assuming that an outright ban is the best course of action. Citing the example of “e-sabong,” the President noted that the prohibition only drove operations underground. “So, let’s use that as an example. Was our ban on e-sabong successful? If not, why was it not successful? Those are the things we need to study,” he said in Filipino. 

Marcos stressed that any policy response must be measured. “I don’t want to influence anyone’s opinion here until we hear from the group who will be examining the question. But in my opinion, a ban will not take care of the problem. We have to be a little bit more measured in our response,” he added. 

Senate to launch parallel inquiry 

The Senate committee on games and amusement will begin discussions on 14 August on various measures aimed at addressing the adverse effects of online gambling. The committee, led by Senator Erwin Tulfo, plans to prioritise these proposals, citing the worsening problem as a crisis that must be addressed urgently. 

Tulfo intends to hear the positions of key agencies, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Department of Finance (DOF), before deciding on whether to support an outright ban on online gambling. He has expressed concerns over the lack of regulation, noting that this has allowed people to gamble without limits and even enabled minors to participate. 

The senator has also raised the broader question of balancing government revenue from gambling operations against the social harms, such as addiction and its impact on youth. 

Legislative measures on the table 

The Senate committee will tackle four bills, three resolutions, and a privilege speech related to the ill effects of online gambling. 

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to prohibit e-wallet providers from directly linking their platforms to online gambling sites. Gatchalian said that the central bank can protect Filipinos from the destructive cycle of gambling addiction. The senator warned that easy access to online gambling through mobile apps and web links has enabled many, including minors, to engage in betting, often leading to financial ruin. 

Gatchalian’s proposed bill seeks stricter regulation of the industry, including a ban on non-bank electronic money issuers from linking to gambling platforms.