Online gambling revenue seen hitting P480 billion this year

MANILA, Philippines —  Gross revenues from online gambling in the Philippines are expected to hit P480 billion this year, driven largely by a growing number of casual Filipino players who prefer regulated platforms, according to a study conducted by sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall.

The surge in revenue reflects a post-pandemic shift in gambling behavior, with players migrating from street-based and social media betting to digital platforms perceived to be safer and more legitimate.

This behavioral shift is among the key findings of the study, which surveyed 1,250 active online gamblers across Mega Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao and other key cities nationwide.

“Many shifted from unregulated markets to regulated online gambling platforms for safety and legitimacy,” the study noted. “Players report having migrated from informal or unsafe gambling environments like social media betting or local street games, valuing the more secure and regulated structure of such platforms.”

According to the study, the majority of Filipino online gamblers are millennials from lower-income households, often working in blue-collar or service jobs, who engage in low-stakes, leisure-based gambling.

About 89 percent spend less than P5,000 a month, while 85 percent do not borrow money to gamble. On average, players’ reported wins (P2,061) are almost equal to losses (P2,026), reinforcing the perception that gambling is “just for fun” and financially manageable.

“These players typically treat gambling as a manageable form of recreation, akin to paying for entertainment or leisure,” the study said.

The study also underscored the central role of e-wallets in enabling responsible gambling. GCash dominates as the platform of choice, used by 92 percent of players, followed by Maya at six percent.

Nearly three in four players believe these digital wallets effectively verify users’ age and identity, while 64 percent say they help control spending, allowing users to stay within their means.

Despite the preference for regulated platforms, players expressed frustrations with operational glitches such as delayed withdrawals, login errors and crashes during betting, which erode confidence even in legal operators.

“These operational issues can weaken perceptions of fairness and safety,” the study said, suggesting a need for minimum service standards and more responsive customer grievance systems.

As public debate over online gambling intensifies, 53 percent of respondents said they oppose banning regulated gambling platforms, while only 18 percent support a full ban. Another 16 percent said they would agree to a ban, but only with strong reservations.

“Our study reveals greater preference for safer and regulated platforms among Filipino online gambling players. There is an understanding among them that an outright ban won’t stop online gambling, but instead push it underground, increasing risks like scams and addiction through unregulated channels,” John Brylle Bae, research director at The Fourth Wall, said.

Scams and security risks are also top concerns among respondents, especially those with experience on illegal platforms. Players shared stories of vanished winnings, double deductions and suspended accounts after cashing out.

Players also raised concerns about inadequate customer support, lack of age checks and aggressive social media ads promoting illegal gambling apps. These risks were particularly alarming for low-income users and younger players.

Despite these risks, players are not calling for prohibition. Instead, the study showed that most want stronger rules and better enforcement including tighter age restrictions, platform verification tools and easier ways to report illegal operators.