Finance Secretary Ralph Recto is advocating for stricter regulations on online gambling instead of banning it entirely in the country.
His statement comes amid widespread calls to prohibit online gambling due to its perceived negative effects.
According to Recto, online gambling contributes significantly to government revenue.
He added that the government collects annual income from Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGO), which are managed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
As a solution, he stressed the importance of implementing strict guidelines for the industry.
One of his suggestions is to require players to present a national ID to verify that they are of legal age before they can participate in online gambling.
Lawmakers have been pushing to revoke PIGO licenses, arguing that online gambling negatively impacts ordinary citizens’ lives.