Cagayan de oro city: 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Tuesday urged the House of Representatives to muster enough courage 'to put an end to the silent epidemic of online gambling.'
According to Philippines News Agency, the Mindanao lawmaker, in a privilege speech, told his colleagues that he could not remain silent as Filipino families are being torn apart and devastated by the digital plague of online gambling, including e-sabong.
Rodriguez highlighted that gambling, once confined to casinos and cockpits, now hides in mobile devices, accessible 24/7 to the public, including children and youth, often with no age restrictions. He emphasized the ease with which anyone, even minors, can register on a gambling app, fund it through an e-wallet, and potentially lose everything within minutes.
He cited a 2025 study by Digital Risk Observatory, noting that approximately 34 million Filipinos, roughly one in three adults, have participated in online gambling. The study showed that about 64 percent of surveyed users admitted to betting online, with many doing so daily.
Rodriguez expressed concern over the significant percentage of young users, with around 30 percent aged between 15 and 24, many of whom began gambling before turning 18. He pointed out the failure of laws and digital systems to protect the youth.
The lawmaker also criticized the aggressive promotion of gambling online, noting that celebrities, influencers, and even beauty queens endorse apps like Bingo Plus, ArenaPlus, OKBet, and Stake.com. These endorsements, he said, entice millions of Filipinos with promises of instant wealth, and over 15 top Filipino celebrities are promoting these platforms.
Rodriguez argued that these promotions are often packaged as lifestyle content, making gambling appear harmless and aspirational. However, he emphasized the detrimental impact, including broken homes, ruined lives, exhausted savings, and shattered futures.
While acknowledging that the government earns billions from e-sabong and other online gambling activities, Rodriguez highlighted the cost in terms of societal issues such as broken families, mental health problems, domestic abuse, and youth addiction.
He urged his colleagues to act with courage and resolve to ban all forms of online gambling, emphasizing the need to protect poor families, children, and victims of digital vice. "We must act decisively," Rodriguez stated, calling for an immediate ban on online gambling.
