Unregulated gambling rising in the Philippines, study finds

New research highlights knowledge gaps and high-risk behaviours.

The Philippines.- A study by sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall has found that 55 per cent of players remain unaware of the legal risks associated with unregulated platforms. The report, based on surveys of 400 online gamblers in Mega Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, found that player behaviour is driven more by confidence in winning than by legal compliance.

“Trust, not legality, drives player behaviour,” said John Brylle L. Bae, research director at The Fourth Wall. “Confidence, fairness, and perceived profitability matter more than platform features. This explains why players, despite uncertainty and uneasiness, continue to engage with unregulated platforms as long as they perceive a chance to win.”

Unregulated sites are attracting heavier and riskier play compared to their regulated counterparts, which operate under oversight from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). Forty-one per cent of respondents reported gambling two to three times a week, while nearly a third played four or more times weekly. Typical bets ranged from PHP100 (US$1.7) to PHP499 (US$8.7), with higher wagers of PHP1,000 (US$17) and above predominantly placed on unregulated platforms.

The study categorized gamblers into four key personas: high-stakes losers (44 per cent), who frequently bet big but lose more than they win; perceived winners (28 per cent), who believe their gains outweigh losses; casual break-even players (17 per cent), who engage infrequently with low stakes; and regulated converts (11 per cent), who divide their activity but favour Pagcor-approved sites. Most respondents were aged 26 to 45, from lower-income brackets and viewed gambling as a leisure activity tied to family life.

Over 90 per cent of players reported signing up with minimal verification and 80 per cent noted the absence of betting limits. Sixty-five per cent had never seen fairness certifications

While, regulated platforms offer around 2,900 verified games, Know Your Customer procedures, capped transactions, and formal dispute resolution, unregulated sites were found to have larger libraries of about 5,000 titles, many unverified, alongside faster transactions, convenient payment channels, and frequent promotions.

Bae stressed the need for policy shifts to make regulated options more appealing, rather than punishing players. “Policy could focus on shaping conditions such as payment channels, verification systems, or advertising practices that make safer options more accessible and attractive,” he said. Recommendations include clearer communication on protections, reliable grievance mechanisms, and responsible promo designs to steer users toward compliant environments.

New research highlights knowledge gaps and high-risk behaviours. The Philippines.- A study by sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall has found that 55 per cent of players remain unaware of…