Philippines still considering excise tax on online gambling
Finance Secretary Frederick Go must approve the measure before it can be submitted to the president for consideration.
The Philippines.- The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) has confirmed that a proposed excise levy on online gambling remains under assessment, more than a year after the measure was first raised by former Finance secretary Ralph Recto. Finance Undersecretary Karlo Adriano acknowledged the ongoing review while speaking to reporters, saying the department was still studying the proposed tax.
Key considerations include the proposed tax rate, the categories of online gambling activities that would be covered and the potential revenue the measure could generate for the government. The department will also need to weigh the additional tax burden on licensed operators against the risk of making unregulated platforms more attractive to players.
Recto first raised the possibility of an excise tax in July 2025, when concerns over the growth and accessibility of online gambling prompted calls for tighter government intervention. At the time, he advocated stronger regulatory controls rather than a nationwide ban. Adriano noted that finance secretary Frederick Go would need to approve the proposal before it could be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for consideration.
The proposal is being considered alongside other regulatory measures affecting the Philippine online gambling market. In August 2026, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) told lawmakers that approximately half of the online gaming websites accessible in the country were illegal. The regulator subsequently announced plans to introduce a mobile application to help players identify licensed platforms, with a launch targeted for December 2026.
