Latest news with #P104.12
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Zubiri: Imposing tax not answer to ills of online gambling
Senator Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri said Tuesday that imposing tax on online gambling is not enough to address the problems it brings to society. This, as Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study the proposal of the Department of Finance (DOF) to tax online gaming in a bid to restrict it. The DOF is eyeing to propose a tax on online gaming as well as other policies to curb unrestricted access to gambling, including digital gambling platforms. Zubiri, who earlier filed a bill seeking an outright ban on all forms of online gambling including digital betting platforms, mobile applications, and websites that allow users to place wagers through electronic devices, said that the government should look at what happened to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) when it was taxed. 'We passed a law taxing POGO operations in the country and it did not stop the moral scourge to society. Lalong lumala ang mga sindikato at human trafficking cases sa bansa,' the senator said in a statement. (The syndicates and human trafficking cases in the country got worse when we taxed POGO.) 'So taxing them is not an answer to the social ills it will cause our kababayans. Kumikita lang tayo sa pag-gigipit at paghihirap ng ating mga mamamayan [We only make money from the oppression and suffering of our countrymen]. In English, we're profiting from the misery of our people. Kawawa naman and ating bansa,' he added. Ban access in e-wallets, super apps For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a bill seeking to ban online gambling access in e-wallets and super apps in response to the growing clamor for tighter regulations on such games. 'Phones are not casinos. Naging masyadong madali ang malulong sa sugal dahil napaka-accessible nito sa mga e-wallets at super apps,' Hontiveros said in a statement. (Phones are not casinos. It has become very easy to get addicted to gambling as it is very accessible through e-wallets and super apps.) 'Napakarami sa ating mga kababayan ang nabaon sa patong-patong na utang dahil sa e-sugal na lalong pinadali ng mga e-wallets. Para sa iba, buhay ang naging kapalit, dahil isang pindot lang ang kailangan,' she added. (Many of our countrymen are buried in debt because of e-gambling that is made easier by e-wallets. Lives of others may also be put at risk because all it takes is a click.) The bill also prohibits those aged below 21 from online gambling platforms and bans the advertisement of online gambling in public spaces, tri-media, and social media. It also mandates PAGCOR to set daily, weekly, and monthly betting and loss limits, which when reached will trigger the suspension of gaming accounts for a minimum of 30 days. The country's gaming industry saw its total revenues grow to P104.12 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 27.44% year-on-year, driven for the first time by the growing popularity of electronic games among Filipinos. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), meanwhile, welcomed proposed measures seeking to put stricter regulations on online gambling. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos to study proposals on taxing online gaming —Palace
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study the proposal of the Department of Finance (DOF) to impose tax on online gaming. ''Ang proposal po na ito ng DOF na magkaroon po ng tax para po marestriktuhan ang mga online gaming ay para naman po sa ikabubuti ng pamilyang Pilipino,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing. (This proposal from the DOF to impose taxes on online gaming to restrict them is for the betterment of Filipino families.) ''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 para po—tungkol sa buwis na ipapataw man,'' she added. (The President knows what might happen if someone is addicted to gambling and he will not contradict this if there's enough study on this proposal.) The DOF is eyeing to propose a tax on online gaming as well as other policies to curb unrestricted access to gambling, including digital gambling platforms. Recently, several lawmakers filed bills banning the promotion of online gambling and its linkage to electronic wallets (e-wallets). In particular, Bukidnon Representatives Keith Flores, Jose Alba, Audrey Zubiri, Laarni Roque and Arlyn Ayon made the proposal under their House Bill 721 or the Anti-Online Gambling Promotions in E-Wallet Act. Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also filed a bill that would prohibit the use of e-wallet for online gambling, increase the online gambling age restriction from 18 to 21, as well put a minimum bet of P10,000 and top-up of P5,000. The country's gaming industry saw its total revenues grow to P104.12 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 27.44% year-on-year, driven for the first time by the growing popularity of electronic games among Filipinos. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has welcomed proposed measures seeking to put stricter regulations on online gambling. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
PAGCOR duty-bound to follow laws on online gambling
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Friday welcomed proposed measures seeking to put stricter regulations on online gambling. 'It is the prerogative of our lawmakers to propose laws which they think will be beneficial to the public,' PAGCOR said in a statement. 'PAGCOR is duty-bound to follow any and all relevant regulations once they are passed by Congress and signed into law by the President,' the state-run gaming firm added. The gaming industry regulator issued the statement after several lawmakers filed bills banning the promotion of online gambling and its linkage to electronic wallets (e-wallets). In particular, Bukidnon Reps. Keith Flores, Jose Alba, Audrey Zubiri, Laarni Roque and Arlyn Ayon made the proposal under their House Bill 721 or the Anti-Online Gambling Promotions in E-Wallet Act. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also filed a bill that would prohibit the use of e-wallet for online gambling, increase the online gambling age restriction from 18 to 21, as well put a minimum bet of P10,000 and top-up of P5,000. 'In the meantime, rest assured that PAGCOR remains fully committed to intensifying its efforts in the ongoing battle against the proliferation of illegal online gaming activities, together with like-minded agencies and organizations and with the support of all gaming industry stakeholders,' the gaming industry regulator said. The country's gaming industry saw its total revenues grow to P104.12 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 27.44% year-on-year, driven for the first time by the growing popularity of electronic games among Filipinos. PAGCOR reported earlier that e-games and e-bingo became the gaming industry's top revenue driver for the first time, accounting for P51.39 billion or 49.36% of the total; outpacing licensed casinos which contributed P49.28 billion or 47.32%. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
