Philippine VP Sara Duterte backs calls for ban on online gambling
Speaking from The Hague, the Philippines’ vice president voiced concern over the impact of online gaming.
The Philippines.- Vice president Sara Duterte has come out against online gambling as calls for a ban grow among Philippine politicians. She said that digital platforms make gambling too accessible, leading to rapid financial losses and worsening family debt.
“I am against online gambling,” Duterte said, speaking from The Hague. “I am not in favour of any type of online gambling because parents cannot control their children’s access to the internet.”
She added: “If you put it online, where we can’t control who opens an account to gamble, I am not in favour of that because it destroys families and the future of the youth.”
Her remarks come after several proposals were made in Congress aimed at prohibiting online gambling. These include House Bill No. 1351 or the “Kontra E-Sugal Bill” and the Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025.
In the Senate, lawmakers like Juan Miguel Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, and Sherwin Gatchalian are pushing for either bans or stricter controls, such as removing access through e-wallets and super apps. The Department of Health has labelled online gambling a public health issue.
