3 in 10 Filipinos Use or Show Interest in Online Gambling

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Nearly all Filipinos are aware of online gambling, but only 3 in 10 say they use or are interested in trying it, according to the April 2025 Philippine Public Opinion Monitor by WR Numero.

The national survey found that 92% of adult Filipinos know about online gambling, underscoring widespread awareness regardless of region, age, income, or location.

However, just 10% identified as current users and 14% as past users, while 5% expressed interest despite never having tried.

The remaining 71% said they have not used online gambling platforms and are not interested in doing so.

“Younger, urban, and higher-income Filipinos show the most engagement with online gambling,” the survey report stated.

Among Filipinos aged 30 and below, 16% are current users, 19% are past users, and 3% are interested but haven’t yet tried it.

By contrast, current usage among those aged 31 to 59 drops to 7%, and to just 3% among those aged 60 and older.

Class ABC respondents—those in higher-income brackets—also report higher usage, with 16% identifying as current users and 30% as past users.

In contrast, Class E shows lower participation, with 8% currently using and 16% as past users, but a slightly higher share (6%) expressing interest despite not having gambled before.

Urban dwellers are more likely to have gambled online (11% current, 20% past) than rural residents (9% current, 10% past), and are also more open to trying it (6% versus 4%).

The data reveals regional disparities in gambling behavior, with Metro Manila leading in combined usage at 41% (12% current, 29% past), and only 58% reporting no interest.

Mindanao, meanwhile, has the highest current usage rate at 13%, but 69% of respondents there said they are not interested.

Visayas shows the lowest engagement, with 7% current users, 8% past users, and 3% expressing interest—while a significant 82% said they are not interested.

In the rest of Luzon, only 8% currently use online gambling platforms, but interest among non-users is highest here at 8%.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,894 registered Filipino voters from March 31 to April 7, 2025.

It has a ±2% margin of error at the national level and ±5 to ±6% across regional groupings, all at a 95% confidence level.

WR Numero, an independent opinion research firm, designed the study to assess awareness, use, and interest in online gambling amid ongoing debates on its regulation and proliferation in the country.

While legal online gambling is regulated in the Philippines through licensed operators and oversight bodies like PAGCOR, the issue remains controversial due to concerns over addiction, fraud, and its accessibility to minors.

Experts have called for stronger consumer protection policies, increased public education, and updated legislation to address emerging challenges from the sector’s digital expansion.