Philippines Bans Online Gambling for All Gov’t and LGU Officials

Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has strictly banned all its employees from engaging in any kind of online gambling. This ban also applies on officials and staff of local government units (LGUs).

Philippines’ crackdown on Online Gambling Industry

The ban was declared through a memorandum circular, released on Tuesday. The online gambling ban directive covers all DILG personnel, employees of its attached agencies, elected local officials, and appointed government workers.

This move is an extension on a recent rule that prohibited physical casino gambling. The DILG said online platforms are just as harmful as physical gambling, if not worse. The regulatory body also added that they are a serious threat to the integrity of public service.

As per the circular, public servants involved in gambling tend to get distracted from their duties and also risk damaging the reputation of the government. The DILG also issued a caution that violators may be subjected to administrative and criminal charges. The order is effective immediately.

The department said it had received reports of government employees participating in online gambling. As a result, DILG argued that such behavior badly affects the credibility of the service and reduces public trust.

The DILG also noted a 2016 directive from the Office of the President, which stated that even just being inside a gambling establishment, unless for official duties, could be considered misconduct. The same principle now applies to online gambling.

This move for a stricter policy, comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently expressed concern about a total ban on online gambling. He warned that banning it completely could push the shady industry underground, where it would be harder to monitor and control. As per Marcos Jr, the better approach is to minimize harm rather than eliminate the industry, as a total ban could do more harm.

He recently said the real problem is not the gambling itself, but the harm it can cause to children, families, and people struggling with addiction.

In order to address the issue, Marcos plans to hold a public consultation. The president also wants to bring together government regulators, church leaders, parents, and advocacy groups to help shape a more effective and responsible policy.

The President emphasized that any solution must come from collective input. Marcos Jr also clarified that this situation is different from the controversy over Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which were banned after they were being associated with crimes like human trafficking and online scams.

On the other hand, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is preparing new rules to limit the risks of online gambling. These will be followed by biometric ID checks, daily gambling spend limits (over a 24-hour period), restrictions on time of day for gambling transactions and a self-exclusion feature that allows customers to block themselves from all gambling companies with a single step. However, the BSP said these measures are intended to check addiction and lessen economic damage. They also promote responsible use of online payment products. The gambling problem is getting out of hand, all the more as officials receive alarming reports of young Filipinos and lower-income households, drugs casualty, falling by the wayside due to addiction.

Note that in the first half of 2025, the Philippine gambling industry earned ₱215 billion in gross revenue. Of that amount, over ₱93 billion came from integrated resorts.

Outside the Philippines, some places have already taken action. For instance, the city of Malargüe in Argentina has started blocking access to gambling websites via public Wi-Fi. This was done to control the growing risks of digital gambling addiction.

Also read: Chile and India Make Strides in Online Gambling Regulation