MANILA, Philippines — A new study from Filipino-focused sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall reveals that many Filipino online gambling players are unaware of the risks of playing on unregulated platforms, leaving them exposed to various dangers, such as financial losses, privacy concerns, and underage participation.
The study surveyed hundreds of current online gambling players from urbanized areas across Mega Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao who have experience playing on unregulated platforms.
According to the study, about 55% of players admit they are unaware of the legal risks tied to these sites, while another 33% say they know “a little.” Meanwhile, only 12% of them find the rules clear, highlighting a significant knowledge gap.
This limited awareness contributes to a lack of trust. When asked about their confidence, 39% of players express skepticism about the platforms’ fairness, compared with just 27% who feel confident. Another 28% remain neutral, reflecting a general uncertainty or a lack of visibility into how these systems work. This mirrors players’ overall sentiments, with 32% remaining undecided or neutral, and 27% reporting feeling more uneasy than confident.
The Fourth Wall research director John Brylle L. Bae highlights that player behavior is primarily driven by their personal perceptions and experiences rather than a platform’s features.
“Our study reveals confidence, fairness, and profitability matter more than platform features such as betting limits or affiliate programs. This explains why players, despite the uncertainty and uneasiness, continue to engage with these platforms as long as they perceive a chance to win.”
The study found that players on unregulated platforms play more heavily, with 41% playing 2-3 times a week, while nearly a third play 4 or more times a week. They also place higher bets, from PHP 100 to PHP 499, and occasionally up to PHP 1,000. These high-risk habits often lead to greater losses, with 41% of players reporting they stopped engaging in them primarily due to financial losses.
The majority of players on unregulated platforms are between 26 and 45 years old, come from lower-income brackets, and see gambling as a form of casual leisure.
The study categorized players based on their exposure to risk. The majority (44% of respondents) are profiled as “high-stakes losers,” or individuals who exclusively play on unregulated platforms and frequently place high bets, revealing high-risk, unprofitable behavior. Meanwhile, 28% of players surveyed are classified as “perceived winners,” those who play on unregulated sites with frequent medium bets, and perceived wins outweigh losses. About 17% of them are so-called “casual break-even players,” who prioritize low-risk entertainment over high-stakes wins, and 11% are “regulated converts,” individuals who play on both regulated and unregulated sites, but tend to play regulated more frequently.
Among those surveyed, about 32% prefer Bingo Plus as their preferred regulated site, while JiliBet is the most frequently accessed unregulated platform (28%).
Players cite unregulated platforms as their primary choice for their greater game variety, faster transactions, convenient payment options, and more frequent promotions. However, factors such as trust and reputation play a smaller role in their decision-making. The study further reveals that these sites lack crucial safeguards. About 65% of players do not recall seeing any fairness certifications on unregulated platforms, and nearly one in five admit they do not actively look for them. Furthermore, over 90% of players report being able to join with little to no verification, and 80% report no betting limits, leaving vulnerable groups exposed, unlike in regulated platforms with stricter controls.
A separate analysis by The Fourth Wall found significant contrasts between regulated and unregulated online gambling platforms, including the offering of games not verified by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a lack of Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, more lucrative marketing and affiliate structures, and inconsistent customer service. These differences expose players to various risks, including excessive financial losses, scams, fraud, and privacy issues from spam texts.
“Trust, not legality, drives player behavior, and highlights how building confidence can shape their choices. Therefore, policy could focus on shaping conditions such as payment channels, verification systems, or advertising practices that make safer options more accessible and attractive rather than targeting players. Clearer communication around protections, transparency, and user rights may encourage them to prefer regulated environments,” Bae added.
Photo by Niek Doup on Unsplash
