“The time is now to ban online gambling” — Senator Bong Go pushes for passage of Anti-Online Gambling Bill despite SONA silence on the issue

“The time is now to ban online gambling as well as POGO in this country and stop giving our people, particularly the poor, false hopes.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go issued this strong statement as he renewed his call to criminalize all forms of online gambling, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), which did not touch on the issue.

Go emphasized that whether or not the topic was mentioned in the President’s speech, the need to act remains urgent.

“Nabanggit man sa SONA o hindi, patuloy nating isusulong ang panukalang tuluyang ipagbawal ang online gambling sa bansa,” Go declared. “Katunayan, bago pa magsimula ang session, nag-file na ako ng Senate Bill No. 686 noong July 16.”

Framing online gambling as a growing menace to public morality, family stability, and financial security, Go stressed the devastating effects it has had on ordinary Filipinos, particularly those struggling to make ends meet.

“Masyado na pong malaki at malalim ang social cost nito,” he warned.

He shared real-life observations on how gambling platforms, often disguised as harmless games, are draining resources from unsuspecting users.

“‘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,” Go noted.

Filed on July 16—several days before Congress resumed session—Senate Bill No. 686 seeks to criminalize the conduct, promotion, advertisement, and facilitation of online gambling. Under the proposed measure, any form of internet-based betting or wagering—whether through desktop platforms or mobile applications—would be explicitly declared illegal.

Go grounded the bill on constitutional principles, citing the 1987 Constitution’s mandate for the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that frees the people from poverty and provides access to adequate services and opportunities.

He also invoked the State’s inherent police powers, stating: “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 predatory phenomenon that “preys on the vulnerable, erodes family values, and poses risks to financial integrity, particularly when left unregulated or inadequately controlled.”

He cited a surge in gambling-related addiction, financial distress, and even criminal activity, including “cases involving unpaid digital loans used for gambling, increased mental health issues, and targeting of minors through mobile applications.”

“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 explained.

If passed into law, the Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025 would prohibit any person or entity from placing, receiving, or knowingly transmitting bets or wagers through the internet. It would also ban the establishment or operation of online gambling platforms within the Philippines.

Moreover, the measure seeks to outlaw the advertising or distribution of any information that promotes online gambling, as well as the acceptance of any form of payment or wager related to internet-based gaming activities.

Government officials found promoting or facilitating online gambling would be liable for the maximum penalty under the law, along with permanent disqualification from public service, voting rights, or electoral participation.

The bill also seeks to repeal any laws, regulations, or executive orders that authorize the regulation of online gambling, effectively shutting down any legal basis for its continued operation in the country.

Go also flagged the digital nature of online gambling as a unique threat to minors.

“Mali po ito. Protektahan po natin ang ating mga kabataan. Hindi lang mga kabataan, lahat ng Pilipino protektahan natin na malulong sa sugal,” he emphasized as Chair of the Senate Committee on Youth. 

Complementing Senate Bill No. 686, Go is also a co-author and co-sponsor of SBN 2868, a separate measure seeking to prohibit the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. That measure has already passed both chambers of Congress.

“Kailangan na natin ng batas para gawin itong isang krimen,” he reiterated.

###