Digiplus has warned of the significant economic consequences of recent governmental threats being implemented towards the iGaming sector in the Philippines. 

The Philippines’ largest gaming operator emphasised that the touted outright ban on online gaming could lead to over 50,000 job losses. 

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri sent shockwaves through the country’s gaming industry when he proposed the ‘Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025’, which seeks to implement an outright ban on online gambling.

Digiplus Chair, Eusebio Tanco, implored the country’s lawmakers to consider the potential consequences of a total ban, including the aforementioned job losses. 

He stated: “We are open to evolving and improving wherever needed. If there are new standards to meet or better ways to protect players, we will act swiftly and responsibly. But please, do not condemn an industry, and the 50,000 Filipino families who rely on it, without hearing the facts first.”

The company, which operates brands such as BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, suggested that the licensed industry is being “made to answer for the crimes of illegal operators who respect neither law nor livelihood”.

It continued: “We are appealing to the government: Let us approach this rationally. If we examine the issue with clear eyes, we will see that the social ills attributed to online gaming stem from the illegal market. That is where underage gambling happens. That is where financial abuse thrives. Target that, and the harm disappears.”

Fears have since been amplified due to an attack on online gaming by the Philippines’ President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who lamented the ease of which digitisation has allowed Filipinos to access gambling products. 

“One of the things digitalisation has made easier is gambling. Many families are being destroyed by it, especially when used irresponsibly,” said Marcos in a video posted on social media. “Technology should help make Filipino families successful and united, not destroy them.”

Alongside calls for an outright ban, other Philippine lawmakers have proposed more stringent regulations surrounding gaming, including a ban on using e-wallets to fund online betting and a minimum player age of 21.

Digiplus emphasised that it has already implemented many of the measures currently being debated by legislators, such as know-your-customer checks, mandatory age verification, and responsible-gambling prompts.

“We are not asking for special treatment. We are simply asking to be judged by our actions, not by perception, nor by association with those who break the law. Regulation works best when it uplifts what is working, not when it dismantles it,” Digiplus concluded.

In targeting online gaming, Philippine Senators are aiming for an industry that contributes significantly to the country’s economy.

The Philippine government received over P112bn (£1.5bn) in revenue from licensed platforms in 2024. According to the Philippine Star, P16.6bn of which went to PhilHealth for universal healthcare, and a further P46.3bn was remitted as dividends to the national treasury.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue received an additional PHP 5.9 billion in tax contributions. 

A group of 14 licensed operators, who have united against the total prohibition, stressed that an outright ban would force players to the black market, and spending outside the regulated market diverts money away from communities.

“The reality is clear: players will continue to play. The choice is whether they do so on secure, licensed platforms that follow regulations, or on black-market sites that answer to no one,” they said.

Source