MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will examine policy options to address the online gambling crisis gripping the nation, his office said on Saturday, as calls mount for the government to enact tighter regulations, or ban internet betting completely.
Concerns are growing over the rising number of Filipinos battling addiction to online gambling, which has become more accessible through social media and e-wallet platforms.
Marcos is planning to convene a conference of stakeholders to help develop a policy to tackle the crisis, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement issued on Saturday.
“The president underscored the need to carefully examine policy options, saying an outright ban on online gambling is not (necessarily the) solution,” the statement read.
Marcos recently told a media gathering that “a ban will not take care of the problem,” adding that his administration seeks to identify its root cause.
