Over half of online gamblers in the Philippines are ‘unaware of legal risks’ on unregulated sites
Over half of Filipinos who engage in online gambling are unaware of the legal risks associated with unregulated gambling, according to a recent study by consultancy firm Fourth Wall.
Results showed that 55% of participants did not know the legal consequences of using unlicensed sites, while 33% said that they knew “a little.” Only 12% of players considered the rules to be clear.
Participants also expressed concerns about their lack of confidence in platform fairness. When questioned, 39% of players responded with skepticism about the fairness of online casinos, compared to 27% who expressed confidence.
The report also investigated the frequency of bets placed and showed that players who frequently used unregulated sites tended to gamble more often and at higher stakes.
Around 41% played two to three times per week, with nearly a third playing at least four times each week. Bets were cited as higher than average, usually ranging between PHP100 (US$2)1 PHP = 0.0174 USD
2025-09-02Powered by CMG CurrenShift and PHP499. (US$9)1 PHP = 0.0174 USD
2025-09-02Powered by CMG CurrenShift
Fourth Wall’s research director John Brylle L. Bae said, “Our study reveals confidence, fairness, and profitability matter more than platform features such as betting limits or affiliate programmes. This explains why players, despite the uncertainty and uneasiness, continue to engage with these platforms as long as they perceive a chance to win.”
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