MANILA, Philippines — Unregulated online gambling platforms in the Philippines continue to attract players through aggressive promotions and broader game options, but the risks of high losses, scams, and lack of legal protection remain pronounced, a study showed.

Filipino-focused sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall revealed that unregulated sites attract users with larger game libraries, aggressive promotions, and more flexible payment channels.

“Players say they choose unregulated platforms mainly for greater game variety, more frequent promotions, faster transactions, and convenient payment options,” the study said.

“Factors such as trust, reputation, or customer service appear to play a smaller role in their decision-making,” it added.

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Almost all respondents recalled being exposed to promotional offers, with 52 percent saying they encountered three or more promos monthly.

Many of these incentives—such as welcome bonuses, free spins, and cashback rebates—were designed to attract new players rather than retain existing ones.

Verification safeguards were found to be almost absent, with over 90 percent of respondents saying they were able to register with little to no checks, exposing underage and vulnerable groups to gambling access.

About 80 percent reported no betting limits, with e-wallets like GCash were said to be used by 72 percent of players. Only 22 percent and 3.0 percent used Maya and GoTyme, respectively.

“Trust, not legality, drives player behavior, and highlights how building confidence can shape their choices,” Fourth Wall Research Director John Brylle Bae said.

“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,” he added.