TLDR
- Calls to gambling addiction hotlines in the Philippines have surged, with one centre reporting 9 in 10 calls now related to gambling
- The Recovering Gamblers of the Philippines helpline is now receiving 30 calls a day, up from 20 last year
- A new National Problem Gambling Helpline received 161 calls since launching on May 26
- PAGCOR registered 32 million electronic gaming players as of July 2025, up from 8.2 million at end of 2024
- Philippine gaming revenue is expected to fall to 320–350 billion pesos this year, down from 396 billion pesos last year
Gambling addiction in the Philippines is getting worse. Counsellors say calls to support hotlines have risen sharply, even as the government has introduced new measures to reduce problem gambling.
The problem is affecting a wide range of people. Housewives, blue-collar workers, young Filipinos, and overseas workers are all being drawn in.
Hotlines Struggling to Keep Up
Jon Ty, founder of Bridges of Hope, said gambling now accounts for 9 out of 10 calls to his centre this year. That’s up from 7 in 10 in 2025.
Ty said the effects go beyond the individual. Families break down, children miss school, bills go unpaid, and marriages end.
To handle the increased demand, Bridges of Hope has grown from 13 rehab centres to 16, with three more opening soon.
Reagan Praferosa, director of Recovering Gamblers of the Philippines, said his helpline now receives 30 calls a day, up from 20 last year. The group has deployed AI tools to help manage the volume.
Praferosa said the hardest calls come in the early hours of the morning. He calls it the hour of desperation.
More housewives are calling in, many having gambled away money set aside for household expenses. Mothers have called during back-to-school season after losing tuition money to gambling.
A Growing and Shifting Problem
The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia where online gambling is legal for citizens aged 21 and over. Casino games, sports betting, cockfighting, and horse racing are all permitted.
PAGCOR reported 32 million registered electronic gaming players as of July 2025. That is four times the 8.2 million reported at the end of 2024. PAGCOR later revised that figure down to 10 million active players.
Teresita Castillo of the Seagulls Flock Organization said most online gamblers come from low-income groups. She also said higher-income young Filipinos are becoming more vulnerable.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline, set up with PAGCOR, launched on May 26 and has already received 161 calls.
Regulation Falling Short
PAGCOR removed gambling billboard ads in July last year. The central bank then told e-wallet operators to unlink gaming platforms from their apps.
Counsellors say these steps are not enough. Gamblers are moving to unregulated platforms instead.
Ty is calling for stricter controls on spending and gambling hours, along with stronger protections for minors. He also wants the government to do more to fund hotlines and emergency services.
Legislation to tighten online gambling rules has stalled in congress.
PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco said gaming revenue is expected to fall to between 320 billion and 350 billion pesos this year, down from 396 billion pesos last year. He cited tighter payment rules and global economic pressures.
