Senator Christopher “Bong” Go filed Senate Bill No. 686, on Wednesday, July 16, proposing a sweeping measure that would declare illegal the operation and conduct of online gambling activities in the Philippines. Through this proposal, Go framed online gambling as a significant threat to public morals, financial security, and the well-being of vulnerable Filipinos.
Previously, Go described how online gambling is now draining limited resources from working-class Filipinos, many of whom unknowingly become addicted due to the ease and secrecy of the platforms.
“Masyado na pong malaki at malalim ang social cost nito,” he said.
“‘Yung iba, alam n’yo, ‘yung mga driver imbes na pambili na nila ng gatas, diaper, pagkain, o baon sa mga anak ay ipinanglalaro na po dito sa online gambling. Kasi masyadong madaling maglaro eh. ‘Yung iba nga akala mo nagti-text lang, naglalaro na pala, nagsusugal na. Ang dami n’yan,” he added.
In his explanatory note, Go cited constitutional principles to justify the bill, stating: “The 1987 Constitution recognizes the role of the State in promoting a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services and economic opportunities.”
He added: “The exercise of the State’s police power allows it to restrict activities deemed injurious to public morals, safety, and order.”
Go described online gambling as a harmful phenomenon that “preys on the vulnerable, erodes family values, and poses risks to financial integrity, particularly when left unregulated or inadequately controlled.”
He highlighted that “in recent years, gambling has become increasingly accessible and dangerously normalized in the Philippines,” noting the rise of platforms ranging from e-casino and card games targeting adults to mobile gambling platforms that lure the youth, thereby exposing a growing number of Filipinos to gambling risks.
Further elaborating on the dangers, Go warned that “the growth of online gambling has given rise to a wave of gambling-related addiction, financial distress, and even criminal activity.”
He pointed to “cases involving unpaid digital loans used for gambling, increased mental health issues, and targeting of minors through mobile applications” as developments that have prompted alarm among regulatory bodies.
“This bill therefore seeks to declare all forms of online gambling illegal and impose clear and substantial penalties on individuals and entities who conduct online gambling,” Go stressed.
Under the bill, formally titled the “Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025,” the State affirms its policy to promote a just and dynamic social order by adopting measures that will eliminate and prohibit all forms of online gambling.
The bill, if enacted, explicitly prohibits any person or entity from conducting or offering online gambling, which it defines as placing, receiving, or otherwise knowingly transmitting a bet or wager by any means involving the use, at least in part, of the internet.
This proposed prohibition encompasses the establishment, operation, or conduct of online gambling activities in the Philippines; the acceptance of any form of betting for online gambling operations; the online distribution of information about placing, receiving, or transmitting wagers; as well as the advertising or publicizing of gambling activities online, whether directed at individuals, groups, or the general public.
The bill also intends to prescribe penalties of imprisonment ranging from one to six months or a fine of PhP100,000 to PhP500,000, at the discretion of the court, for individuals found guilty of violating these provisions.
If enacted, corporations or associations engaged in online gambling may face a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of PhP500,000 to be imposed on responsible officers such as the President, Director, Manager, or Managing Partners.
For public officers or employees found guilty of promoting or encouraging online gambling, the bill proposes the maximum penalty along with additional administrative sanctions, including dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office, voting, or participating in elections.
Go’s bill also seeks to repeal all existing laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations that grant authority to regulate online gambling, effectively abolishing the legal basis for any such activity.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Health and on Youth, Go also stressed the possible threat of online gambling to minors who may unknowingly be able to access such platforms given its digital nature.
“Mali po ito. Protektahan po natin ang ating mga kabataan. Hindi lang mga kabataan, lahat ng Pilipino protektahan natin na malulong sa sugal,” Go emphasized.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa also voiced his support for either banning or strictly regulating online gambling, citing its harmful impact on mental health and families.
Go also co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 2868, which seeks to prohibit the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. The bill has passed both chambers of Congress.