• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental 3rd district Representative Javier ‘Javi’ Miguel Benitez, whose father, Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, is engaged in the online gaming business, is opposed to a ban on online gambling in the Philippines, as he warned that such a move would only drive the industry underground, and harm thousands of Filipino workers and public service funding.
“Banning online gambling won’t make it disappear… it just sends it underground,” the younger Rep. Benitez said.
While he supports stricter rules and smarter regulation, he, however, rejected outright prohibition. “The reality is simple: Gambling is here to stay. The only question is whether we want it safely regulated and benefiting our communities or dangerously unregulated and controlled by criminals,” he added.
“I fully support stricter regulations. Smarter, tighter controls to protect citizens and maximize public benefit,” said the neophyte lawmaker in a statement.
“History has proven repeatedly that prohibition simply doesn’t work,” he said.
Remember alcohol prohibition? Illegal liquor flourished, crime surged, and consumers were left unprotected. The same happened here with jueteng, banning it never stopped it, Benitez stressed.
Legal, regulated platforms keep gambling transparent and accountable. They verify ages to protect minors, ensure games are fair, prevent exploitation, and help spot and support people struggling with gambling addiction early, something impossible with underground operators, he added.
The neophyte solon also pointed out that the legal online gaming industry has become deeply integrated into the country’s economy, far beyond entertainment.
According to Benitez, regulated online gambling contributes over P200 billion annually to the Philippine economy. “That money doesn’t vanish – it goes directly into hospitals, schools, infrastructure projects, community programs, and social services that improve our daily lives,” he said.
In fact, DigiPlus alone reported paying P33.7 billion in taxes, which funds critical public services, he further added.
His father, Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, is reported as a founder and former majority stockholder of gaming firm DigiPlus (formerly Leisure and Resorts World Corp.).
According to the younger Benitez, more than 40,000 Filipinos are currently employed in regulated online gambling platforms.
“These are real people with real families relying on these jobs for food, education, healthcare, and a better life,” he further said.
He appealed to fellow lawmakers, “Let’s be smart. Let’s protect Filipino jobs, fund essential services, and keep our people safe.”
Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismulla have filed House Bill 1351 restricting access to online gambling or the Kontra e-Sugal Act.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also filed the Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025 that seeks an outright ban on online gambling in the Philippines, calling it a “silent epidemic” that is quietly harming Filipinos, especially minors and the most vulnerable.
Under Zubiri’s proposed measure, all forms of online gambling in the country will be prohibited including digital betting platforms, mobile applications and websites that allow users to place wagers through phones, tablets and computers.
The bill likewise mandates Internet Service Providers, mobile network operators and digital platforms to block access to gambling websites and remove related apps within 72 hours upon notice from the Department of Justice or the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.*
