A new study from Filipino-focused sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall showed that a big number of Filipino online gambling players are unaware of the risks from playing on unregulated platforms, leaving them exposed to various dangers, such as financial losses, privacy concerns, and underage participation.
The Fourth Wall Research Director John Brylle L. Bae highlighted 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,” he said.
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 percent of players admit they are unaware of the legal risks tied to these sites, while another 33 percent say they know “a little.” Meanwhile, only 12 percent 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 percent of players express skepticism about the platforms’ fairness, compared with just 27 percent who feel confident. Another 28 percent remain neutral, reflecting a general uncertainty or a lack of visibility into how these systems work. This mirrors players’ overall sentiments, with 32 percent remaining undecided or neutral, and 27 percent reporting feeling more uneasy than confident.
RANGE OF BETS AND AGE OF PLAYERS
The study found that players on unregulated platforms play more heavily, with 41 percent playing 2-3 times a week, while nearly a third play four or more times a week.
They also place higher bets, from P100 to P499, and occasionally up to P1,000. These high-risk habits often lead to greater losses, with 41 percent 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 percent 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 percent 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 percent of them are so-called “casual break-even players,” who prioritize low-risk entertainment over high-stakes wins, and 11 percent are “regulated converts,” individuals who play on both regulated and unregulated sites, but tend to play regulated more frequently.
Among those surveyed, about 32 percent prefer Bingo Plus as their preferred regulated site, while JiliBet is the most frequently accessed unregulated platform (28 percent).
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.
PIXABAY PHOTO