MANILA—Malacañang said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. prefers a careful and deliberate approach to addressing online gambling in the country, emphasizing that any action must be based on a thorough review of the issue.

“Dapat pong aralin at hindi po dapat na ora-orada ay mag-uutos agad na tanggalin iyan. Dapat inaaral po iyan. Ganyan po kasi ang gusto ng Pangulo. Inaaral [hindi] magpadalus-dalos sa aksiyon,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace briefing.

Castro pointed out that critics of online gambling should also consider the revenue generated by licensed operators, which help fund government assistance programs.

“Kapag nga tinanggal natin agad-agad ang online gambling at maapektuhan naman iyong ibang mga lisensiyado, makakaapekto ba ito sa tulong sa bayan, sa tulong sa mga estudyante, sa tulong sa mga Pilipino?” she said.

Castro further noted the importance of distinguishing between licensed and unlicensed platforms when evaluating the impact of online gambling.

“Dapat muna po malaman natin saan ba nanggagaling iyong kamalian, doon ba sa licensed online gambling app o doon sa mga hindi lisensiyado? Dapat malaman natin saan ba nagugumon ang ating mga kababayan sa sugal – doon ba sa mga iligal na gambling app?” she added.

Prior to his State of the Nation Address on Monday, Castro said Marcos had expressed concern over the ease of access to online gambling due to digitalization and warned that gambling addiction could destroy families.