By Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Adrian H. Halili, Reporters
PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is open to taxing online gaming activities in addition to proposals searching for to limit digital gambling to assist curb the harms led to by addiction, the Palace said on Monday.
“The DoF’s (Department of Finance) proposal to impose a tax to assist restrict online gaming is for the welfare of Filipinos,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters in Filipino during a news briefing. “The President is aware of the implications of gambling addiction, and he won’t oppose this proposal so long as it’s supported by studies.”
“We would like to limit this sort of gambling and those that are hooked on it. The President won’t oppose proposals, including laws, that aim to do that… We’ll study any bills that can be passed by Congress to evaluate their impact on the economy and Filipinos’ welfare.”
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto last week said they’ll propose a web based gaming tax and are also studying other policy options “to discourage unimpeded and practically unrestricted access to gambling, particularly digital gambling platforms.”
These include imposing limits on playing time or cash-in to assist prevent addiction, age restrictions, in addition to displaying clear warnings concerning the risks of gambling, Mr. Recto said.
Ms. Castro said the federal government can be ramping up its crackdown on unlicensed and illegal online gaming sites.
Reinielle Matt M. Erece, an economist at Oikonomia Advisory and Research, Inc., said the DoF’s tax proposal is a “good technique to increase government revenues.”
“The (online gambling) industry is growing quickly,” he said in a Viber message. “Whether it curbs gambling addiction is tough to reply, because it requires proper intervention and programs to advertise responsible gaming.”
He added that a web based gaming tax can function a barrier for brand spanking new players while helping the federal government fund its programs.
Several lawmakers have filed bills searching for to curb online gambling amid its rising popularity amongst Filipinos.
On Monday, Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said that he’s searching for an outright ban on online gambling platforms, calling the rise of gambling addiction a “silent epidemic,” especially among the many youth.
“The taxes earned should not definitely worth the social cost. The lives of our countrymen are being ruined, families are fighting, crime is rising, and so they are drowning in debt,” Mr. Zubiri said, adding that foregone revenues from the outright ban may reach P47 billion annually.
Senate Bill No. 142, or the Anti-Online Gambling Bill, seeks to ban online gambling on mobile gadgets. Web service providers are also mandated to limit public access to online gambling platforms and applications.
It also seeks to ban electronic wallets and other digital payment systems from getting used on online gaming platforms.
The Akbayan party-list also filed a bill within the House of Representatives that seeks to manage online gaming sites.
“We cannot gamble away our youth’s future. Our kids cannot turn into collateral within the jackpot dreams of gambling tycoons,” Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno said in an announcement.
House Bill No. 1351, or the Kontra E-Sugal bill, seeks to impose regulations for online gambling platforms, citing the necessity to safeguard public welfare, protect vulnerable groups, and ensure responsible gambling practices.
The bill desires to impose strict age verification protocols to stop minors from accessing these platforms and limit promoting and promotion of digital gaming. It also seeks to impose a betting and loss limit.
Gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose by 27.44% to P104.12 billion in the primary quarter, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. earlier said, with electronic gaming out-earning physical casinos for the primary time. Electronic businesses generated P51.39 billion or 49.36% of GGR within the period.