Online gambling addiction is a mental health problem - DOH

National

THE Department of Health (DOH) is backing calls for a total ban or strict regulation on online gambling.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said addiction to online gambling is considered a mental health problem and the government must take action against it.

Herbosa stated that a harmful effect of gambling is “habit forming” which affects an individual's behavior.

“Addiction to gambling is a mental health problem, so nakita niyo na marami pamilya na lulong sa gambling kasi it’s very accessible,” Herbosa said in a report by Inquirer.net.

“So I agree with both, either you want to ban it, that’s fine with me, or you want to regulate it,” he added.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri filed a bill earlier this month seeking the total ban of online gambling in the country citing that it is a “silent epidemic” that is quietly harming the citizens of the country, especially minors and the vulnerable.

The Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025 proposed by Zubiri seeks to prohibit all forms of online gambling in the country including digital betting platforms, mobile applications, and websites allowing users to place bets through phones, tablets, and computers.

On the other hand, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also filed a bill on July 1 seeking to impose stricter regulations against online gambling.

The proposed bill bans gambling sponsorships of public events and campaign donations, requiring regulators to allocate a part of collected regulatory fees to establish gambling addiction rehabilitation centers.

The bill also seeks to set a minimum cash-in requirement that forbids the use of e-wallets to discourage impulsive and easy access to gambling sites and raises the minimum age of players from 18 to 21.

The CitizensWatch Philippines also urges the strengthening of regulation of online gambling instead of a total ban.

The group explained that a “blanket ban” could potentially bring the industry down, eliminating regulators’ authority and leaving users at risk of illegal and often predatory offshore operators outside the country's control.

According to the group, the legal online gaming industry has been an important source of public funding, generating P50 billion in revenue in 2024, half of that revenue supported universal healthcare, grassroots sports development, and drug rehabilitation programs.

Eliminating this industry could potentially eradicate up to an estimated P100 billion in earnings of the country in the coming year.(Marlon Ado Jr., USC Comm Intern)