Summary
- According to The Fourth Wall, a significant number of gamblers are still drawn to unregulated websites.
- Most players don't realize that websites not regulated in the Philippines are not actually legal.
- Even with the known risks of unresolved complaints and inadequate customer support, players keep returning to these platforms, eager to spend even more money.
A recent report by The Fourth Wall, an analytics firm, reveals an unsettling truth. Many players in the Philippines are unknowingly engaging with unregulated or unlicensed online gambling sites. To uncover this, The Fourth Wall reached out to 400 online gamblers from Metro Davao, Metro Cebu, and Mega Manila, diving deep into their gambling experiences. More than half, 55%, admitted they weren't aware of any legal risks tied to using these sites, while 33% confessed they had only a vague understanding.
Filipino players are unaware of the legal dangers of playing offshore
Only 12% of individuals reported that they truly understood the current regulatory framework. This suggests that many realized the websites they had visited were not legal under the nation's laws. However, the issue extends beyond merely legal versus illegal, as John Brylle L. Bae, research director at The Fourth Wall, points out. What's really crucial are confidence, fairness, and how profitable these platforms appear, Bae stated. This is why, even amid uncertainty and an underlying sense of unease, people continue to participate in unregulated platforms whenever they sense they might win. These unregulated platforms, which operate outside the statutes of PAGCOR, are drawing more players, according to research findings. Additionally, the wagers are typically larger, yet this brings higher losses as well. Intriguingly, The Fourth Wall has gone deeper in its research, categorizing the profiles of players into four distinct archetypes. Among them are the high-stakes losers, who make up 44% of the player base.
Players acknowledge issues with offshore gambling websites
The second largest group is the perceived winners, making up 28% of players. True to their name, these individuals feel they have gained more than they've lost. Following them are the casual break-even players, comprising 17% of the total audience, who enjoy gambling as a leisurely activity without venturing into high stakes. The Fourth Wall embarked on an exploration of what fuels and motivates players in these situations. They discovered that, despite the greater risks associated with unregulated websites, players are enticed by the broad range of options, quicker payouts, and unique gameplay features offered by these platforms. Yet, players aren't blind to the dangers inherent in these practices. A substantial 65% admitted they never observed a commitment to fairness, pointing to a lack of visible certifications on the websites they visited. Additionally, many have experienced poor customer service and unresolved complaints. In spite of these hurdles and obvious risks, the majority of players remain content and eager to continue gambling.
