Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for stricter regulations on online gambling platforms, particularly those like Scatter, which have reportedly contributed to a rise in gambling addiction among Filipinos — including minors.
Speaking at a press conference, Gatchalian announced that the 20th Congress will prioritize measures that include raising the minimum bet to ₱10,000 and setting a ₱5,000 minimum top-up for users.
Currently, bets can start at just ₱20, making online gambling easily accessible even to young users. The senator said the proposed changes aim to limit participation and reduce addiction risks.
Another proposed measure is banning transactions for online gambling via popular e-wallets such as GCash.
Gatchalian also suggested increasing the minimum legal age for online gambling participants from 18 to 21 years old.
Concerns have been growing over the negative impact of online gambling on families. Authorities have reported cases involving broken marriages, mounting debt, and crimes linked to gambling addiction.
The proposed reforms are part of the government’s broader effort to curb the growing influence of online gambling and protect vulnerable sectors of the population.
