Philippines excise tax on online gambling moves forward

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What happened

The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) confirmed it is actively studying an excise tax on online gambling. The proposal originated with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, framed publicly as a measure to curb unrestricted access to gambling platforms. The DOF confirmation moves this from political rhetoric to a formal policy process. No draft legislation or rate has been published based on available sources.

Why it matters

An excise tax is structurally different from the existing gross gaming revenue (GGR) fees and license fees that PAGCOR already collects. Excise taxes typically apply per transaction or per bet, meaning they hit the cost base regardless of whether the operator is profitable. That changes the economics for every licensed online operator in the Philippines.

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Sources: Google News

About the supporter of this brief

WOMO is a network of 4,000+ affiliates and micro-influencers across Southeast Asia, built by Digirockstars. It connects iGaming, fintech and tech brands with local partners who reach the players and users they want.

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