Survey: 64% Pinoys Aware of Online Betting are Actively Engaged
The online betting industry is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. With the rise of technology and the internet, more people are turning to online betting as a form of entertainment and a potential source of income. To gain insights into the perception of online betting in the country, Capstone-Intel Corporation conducted a nationwide survey. The survey was carried out between May 1 and May 11, 2023, involving 1,200 respondents from 17 different regions. The gender distribution of the respondents was 51% male and 49% female, with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years. All respondents were confirmed to have knowledge of online betting. The study aimed to gain insights into the online betting culture among Filipinos, including determining the level of engagement, reasons for engagement, and the amount typically bet, among other factors. Based on the gathered data, the results indicate that 64% of respondents are engaged in online betting. The degree of engagement varies across different age groups, with 66% of respondents aged 18 to 40 engaging in online betting, while 57% of those aged 41 to 55 have participated in this activity. Conversely, respondents aged 46 to 50, 56 to 60, and the majority of those aged 61 to 65 have not yet engaged in online betting. On the other hand, respondents aged 46-50, 56-60, and the majority of those aged 61-65 have not participated in online betting. Moreover, concerning gender differences, it has been observed that 70% of male respondents have shown interest in online betting, whereas the percentage for female respondents is 58%. Based on the study, it was also discovered that out of the 773 respondents who participate in online gambling, 30% of them engage in it two to three times a week, 22% participate once a month, and 20% participate once a week. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that online betting is a growing industry. “One major contributor to its growth is the increasing accessibility and convenience of online platforms for betting. With the widespread availability of internet access, bettors can easily place their bets from anywhere, at any time, using their desktop or mobile devices,” said Ella Kristina Domingo-Coronel, Research and Publications Director of Capstone-Intel. “Another factor contributing to the growth of online betting is the increasing legalization and regulation of this industry. Our governments have recognized the potential revenue that can be generated from online betting. This has led to a more secure and trustworthy environment for bettors,” she added. The study also revealed that respondents engage in various forms of online betting, with 26% participating in e-casino, 26% in online bingo, and 24% in online gaming. Among the most visited online betting websites were eGames (38%), OKbet (25%), Bet88 (24%), and eSports Bet (20%). Reasons, amount for betting According to the survey results, the primary motive of the respondents for participating in online betting was to test their luck (39%) and earn quick money (32%). Furthermore, the survey indicates that 69% of respondents spend less than P1,000 on betting, while 20% spend between P1,001 and P3,000. Only 6% of respondents bet between P3,001 and P5,000, while 3% bet between P5,001 and P10,000.
Survey Shows 32% Of Filipino Women Engage in Online Bingo
It is no surprise that Filipinos are well-immersed in gambling as a way to recreate and connect with the community, but noteworthy data by Capstone-Intel showed that 32 percent of Filipino women who answered the panel survey are engaging in online bingo. Capstone-Intel conducted the nationwide panel survey from May 1, 2023 to May 11, 2023, comprising over 1,200 respondents, 51 percent of whom were men while 49 percent were women. Capstone-Intel is a high-impact research company which uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to help its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputation, navigate risks, and manage crises; and to be the country’s leading private intelligence agency. According to the result, 32 percent of the respondents who are into online betting engage in online bingo, outplaying men at 21 percent. This was followed by online gaming at 27 percent and e-casino at 26 percent, respectively. ‘Sense of community’ According to Capstone-Intel’s Research Director Ella Kristina Domingo, Filipino women who are playing bingo play the specific online betting game for a “sense of community.” “The reason why women are into online bingo is the sense of community. About 32 percent of women who are into online betting play bingo because it is easy to play, low betting cost,” she said. Domingo also noted that although women play bingo, they tend to be “more conservative in spending because they earn less than their male counterparts.” Data showed that female respondents, who account for 78 percent of women bettors, bet less than P1,000 pesos compared to male respondents at 61 percent. The panel survey revealed that although women outplayed men in playing online bingo, the majority of men respondents (32 percent) engage in online betting two to three times per week, compared to women at 26 percent. Notably, 39 percent of both female and male respondents said that they participate in online betting “to try their luck,” while 32 percent said “to get easy money.” Young bettors Capstone-Intel also found out that a significant number of young online betting players (24 percent) aged 18–20 place bets online once a month. In comparison, a more significant percentage of people aged 51–55 (53 percent) and 56–60 (44 percent) place bets online up to three times a week. However, although the majority of the young respondents are reportedly the biggest players of online betting at least once a month, they are the fewer spenders compared to the older respondents, ages 66–70, who bet P10,000 per game. In contrast, the younger bettors spend less than P1,000 per game. Growing industry According to the findings of the nationwide poll, the most popular online betting sites are E-casinos (with 26 percent) and online bingo sites (also with 26 percent), followed by gaming sites (with 24 percent). In addition, online gamblers between the ages of 66 and 70 have admitted that the only games they play are e-casino and e-sabong (cockfighting). It was also mentioned that more than one-third (38 percent on average) of both female and male respondents who had participated in online betting visited the e-games website. This was followed by OKBet (25 percent), Bet88 (24 percent), and e-sports Bet (20 percent), respectively. In connection to the growing number of bettors, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a 2022 report that when compared to other types of venues within the industry in 2020, gambling and betting services offered the highest number of workers generating over 26,843 (53.7 percent) of employment compared to other amusement and recreation activities with over 14,026 generated employment. Furthermore, it said that gambling and betting activities were the only industry group that outperformed the national average yearly compensation at P464,610 per paid employee. According to the PSA, the average annual compensation in the said industry group is pegged at P313,770 (28 percent). With the thriving presence of online betting and gambling, Capstone-Intel emphasized that 53 percent of female and male respondents confessed that they would recommend online betting to their friends, while the remaining 47 percent would not recommend betting or gambling. Capstone-Intel emphasized that the 18-40-year-old age group, primarily women at 55 percent, are likely to recommend gambling to their friends.
Digital Acceleration Boosts the Popularity of P200 Billion in Online Betting
Gambling is deeply part of the Filipino culture, dating back from betting on cockfights in the 1500s up to the present with horse racing, lottery, and casinos. Male teenagers play basketball in urban street corners and town plazas with bottles of soda as their bet. During wakes, friends and family members play cards or mahjong to keep a 24-hour vigil. It is part of Filipino beliefs that people must stay awake to guard the dead from bad spirits, thus the gambling practice. Over the years, such traditions in Filipino wakes have been abused, resulting in prolonged gambling such as ‘sakla’ and card games, prompting the Philippine National Police (PNP) to issue regulations. Digital acceleration and government regulatory controls have made online betting more innovative and accessible to Filipinos, fueling the Php200 billion-a-year gambling industry in the country. So, who are the biggest gamers in the digital space, and how frequently do they bet online? A nationwide study conducted by Capstone-Intel Corporation, a research and intelligence agency, showed that online betting is fast becoming popular among Filipinos, cutting across ages, gender, and economic status. E-casino (26 percent) and online bingo (26 percent) both topped the list of the most popular online betting sites, followed by gaming (24 percent). Also, online betting players in the 66–70 age group admit to playing only E-sabong and e-casino. It also cited that more than a third (38 percent) of the respondents who have engaged in online betting accessed the eGames website, followed by OKBet (25 percent), Bet88 (24 percent), and eSports Bet (20 percent). The study has 1,200 respondents, both male and female, who said that they are aware of online betting. Of these respondents, 64 percent admitted that they engaged in online betting, and more than half of them are males. Northern Mindanao has the largest number of online betting players, with 78 percent of respondents from the province engaging in online betting, followed by MIMAROPA with 72 percent of online bettors, and SOCCSKSARGEN provinces in the third rank with 70 percent. The study showed that close to 30 percent of those who engaged in online betting do it two to three times a week, while the rest do it either once a week or once a month. Trying their luck (39 percent), and getting easy money (32 percent), are the primary motivations of Filipinos for engaging in online betting, according to the study. Younger respondents (18–20 years old) said they bet online to get easy money, while most of the older respondents, especially those aged 46 and above, are betting online to try their luck. “The fatalistic attitude is still very present in many Filipinos who rely on luck to get money,” said Eero Brillantes, CEO and President of Capstone-Intel Corporation. He said gambling is a way of life for many Filipinos because of the “Bahala na” attitude. Brillantes said the study seeks to analyze the online betting culture in the country, especially the perception, awareness, and practices of online betting. The study showed older respondents, ages 66–70, are the biggest spenders, placing up to P10,000 per bet, while the rest of the younger gamers (64 percent) spend less than P1,000 in online betting. “This study is useful to both private online betting firms in developing innovative, more secure, and fun games with targeted populations, as well as to government agencies to implement measures to be able to secure the digital gambling space and benefit better from the revenues,” said Brillantes. Across all age groups, the highest number of respondents (33 percent) play online betting games two to three times a week, while the rest play once a week and once a month. High prizes (45 percent) and low betting costs (34 percent) encourage people to participate in online betting, along with more freebies and benefits (25 percent), the study stated. The study reveals that respondents with a salary of less than Php20,000 are among the largest online gamers (51 percent), those aged 18–20 and 61–65 years old. Among the advantages of online betting, according to respondents, are that it provides additional income (46 percent), easy money (50 percent), fun (43 percent), and convenience (41 percent). Winners and losers? The majority of online betting players admit that their streak is around breakeven. In terms of winning, there are more males (29 percent) compared with females (22 percent) who claim that they are net winners. Age and gender are also factors in terms of taking risks in online betting. The study showed that a huge number of young online betting players (24 percent) aged 18–20 years old bet online once a month, while those aged 51–55 years old (53 percent) and 56–60 years old (44 percent) bet online up to three times a week. In terms of sex, the majority of male respondents (32 percent) engage in online betting two to three times a week, while there is a mix of female respondents (27 percent) who bet once a month, and those females (26 percent) who engage in online betting two to three times a week. Ella Kristina Domingo, Research Director of Capstone Intel Corp. said, “Women, even those who are engaged in online betting tend to be more conservative in spending because they earn less than their male counterparts.” “This is reflected in the behavior of more female online bettors at 78 percent or respondents who spend less than Php1,000 per game, compared with their male counterparts at 61 percent,” said Coronel. The study also showed that at least 61 percent of respondents hooked on online betting have tried traditional gambling. Among the traditional gambling played by respondents are lotto (64 percent), followed by Bingo (62 percent), small town lottery (42 percent), and scratch and match (40 percent). These respondents also admitted that they have tried casino games (19 percent) and mahjong (12 percent). Metro Manila has the highest number of respondents (67 percent) engaged in traditional gambling across regions, followed by Region X (66 percent), Region VI (66 percent), and
