Win Some, Lose Some: Responsible Gaming Takes Spotlight As Filipinos Bet Online

Online gambling has taken the country’s gaming industry by storm.

With its accessibility and growing popularity, it is also taking money out of Filipinos’ pockets fast.

A 35-year-old site engineer who requested anonymity told The Philippine STAR that she was able to win as much as P75,000 in one day and P180,000 in a week from playing online games.

Her winnings were put to good use, paying for her father’s medication as well for their bills at home.

A single parent, she started playing online games only last year, primarily due to the influence of her friends who played online casinos.

“It’s for fun. I started playing with my workmate,” she said, admitting that she was also enticed by the prizes involved.

She said that she usually spends between P1,000 and P2,000 per day for online games, mostly coming from her salary.

However, there were also times when she borrowed money in order for her to play.

“For me, I don’t think more Filipinos should try gambling online, especially those who believe that they will win but do not think that they can also lose,” she said.

“If you have extra money to play, it’s OK, but if not, then don’t try it. They say gambling is addictive but it depends. People should know their limits,” she added.

Unfortunately, not all players have her self-control — and luck.

A 39-year-old overseas Filipino worker, who also requested anonymity, suffered huge losses — not only financially — due to online gambling.

He said financial troubles due to his online gambling activities led to separation with his wife of three years.

Nicasio Conti, CEO of high-impact research firm Capstone-Intel Corp., has called online gambling “a silent epidemic” which is available 24/7 and is being disguised as entertainment.

He warned that online gambling could fuel debt, mental health problems and even financial crimes such as money laundering.

Amid growing public concern over the impact of digital gambling platforms on families, youth and vulnerable sectors, Conti said that there is a need for a nationwide ban on online gambling advertisements.

He said these ads are prevalent on social media as well as on billboards.

“The glamorization of gambling through aggressive ads is normalizing addiction and destroying lives quietly,” he said.

From undesirable to undeniable

The appeal of online gambling among Filipinos is becoming more and more undeniable as reflected by the rise of digital gambling platforms and online casinos in the country.

Tycoon Lance Gokongwei, in a recent interview with The Philippine STAR, acknowledged the growing presence of online gaming in the gaming industry.

“You can see the market’s moving to online. It makes that space more competitive,” Gokongwei said.

“What I see is that the total revenue pull of offline or physical casinos is already flattening out. The entire market is growing. The online portion is growing. The offline portion is flattening out. And then the offline portion, while it is flattening out, is also getting divided because of the increasing number of casinos,” he said.

To cater to the growing digital segment, the Gokongwei Group’s world-class NUSTAR Integrated Resort in Cebu City has started NUSTAR Online, which is the digital extension of NUSTAR’s 21,000-square meter gaming floor, 1,000 slot machines and 150 table games.

Not to be outdone is Newport World Resorts, which is owned and operated by Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., the leisure and tourism arm of Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc.

Newport World Resorts has strengthened its online gaming system and platform to be able to compete in the country’s online gaming segment.

“Recognizing the increasing popularity of e-gaming in the country, Travellers launched Newport World Casino Online that offers players the excitement of live casino games, including slots, blackjack, baccarat and roulette all on a digital platform,” AGI president CEO Kevin Tan said during the company’s recent annual stockholders’ meeting.

“Designed to cater to both seasoned gamers and newcomers, the platform offers seamless, secure gaming experience and integrates the resort’s epic rewards program, allowing users to earn points redeemable for various exclusive perks,” he said.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., on its end, launched Solaire Online back in 2021 to compete with similar offerings by integrated resort operators, among others, in Entertainment City, Clark and Cebu.

Outside online casinos, however, the battle in the digital gaming space is currently being won by digital entertainment company DigiPlus Interactive Corp. led by tycoon Eusebio Tanco.

DigiPlus, which benefited from the government’s crackdown on illegal offshore gambling firms, is the company behind popular entertainment platforms BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone.

Regarded as the current market leader in the country’s digital gaming landscape, DigiPlus further strengthened its position by ending 2024 with 40 million registered users, double the 20 million users it had in the previous year.

Hoping to take the crown away from DigiPlus, however, is Razon’s newly launched online gaming platform called MegaFUNalo!, which has been making waves since it went live earlier this month.

MegaFUNalo! provides a wide array of options that include on-demand movies, live game shows 24/7, free mini-games as well as interactive live dealers where players can win real cash.

Responsible gaming takes center stage

Responsible gaming has become a buzzword in the gambling industry.

But what does it really mean? Or is it just another marketing effort to justify gambling?

For DigiPlus, responsible gaming refers to engaging in gambling activities in a way that minimizes potential negative effects on individuals and society.

Amid growing concerns over the prevalence of online gambling in the country, DigiPlus said that its platforms are leading the way in responsible gaming, with the principles of education, prevention and intervention at the core of the company’s initiatives.

“Since 2024, we’ve taken stronger steps to embed responsible gaming into the heart of our operations. One of our most notable efforts is the self-exclusion feature built directly into our gaming platforms — the first of its kind in the Philippines and aligned with global standards,” DigiPlus said.

The company said the feature empowers players to take immediate control of their gaming habits, without the need to go through customer service or third-party platforms.

“This allows players to set personal gaming limits, including restrictions on daily game time, customized gaming schedules and loss caps,” DigiPlus said.

“For instance, players can confine their gaming to specific hours — such as evenings or weekends — to maintain a healthy balance between entertainment and daily responsibilities. They can also cap losses. By providing these self-regulation features, DigiPlus aligns with global best practices and ensures that responsible gaming remains an active choice for every player,” it said.

Further, DigiPlus said that strict procedures at both its gaming sites and digital platforms are implemented to ensure that only eligible individuals are permitted to participate in gaming activities.

The company likewise introduced enhanced electronic know- your-customer procedures, incorporating facial recognition technology to verify that the government-issued identification card provided matches the account holder’s identity.

The enhanced security measures, it said, significantly bolster the company’s efforts to prevent fraud, authenticate player identities and ensure age compliance.

“We’ve implemented age verification protocols, real-time player habit notifications and education campaigns in partnership with regulators and advocacy groups,” DigiPlus said.

MegaFUNalo! defines responsible gaming as a program which entails preventing underage people from playing and helping those who may not have control over their playing.

MegaFUNalo! said that it seriously upholds responsible gaming to ensure that it keeps its gaming offers fun and safe.

Among the indicators that one might have a gaming problem are the need to be secretive about gaming, having trouble controlling it and playing even when he or she does not have the money, the platform said.

“You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, pawn or even steal things for gaming money. It is a vicious cycle. You may sincerely believe that having gaming money is the only way to win lost money back. But it only puts you further and further in the hole,” it said.

Responsible or mindful gaming is, indeed, something that all gamblers should truly aspire for. But for many, it appears to be easier said than done.

And for those already addicted to gambling, it may be a little too late to slow down.