Social-impact mitigation measures needed against gambling addiction

TAXES will not be sufficient to curb online gambling addiction, and must be accompanied by programs to mitigate the industry’s negative social impact, economists said.

- By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Taxes are “not a cure-all. A tax can certainly signal that it is not encouraged behavior. But, you have to remember, (gamblers) are people used to losing money,” according to former legislator Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, who used to chair the House Committee on Ways and Means.

He also pushed for “circuit breakers for people who repeatedly lose, or who seem addicted already.”

“We have to be clear about our objectives first so that we can design tax policy right. If the goal is behavioral, the design will be different than if the goal is to raise revenues,” Mr. Salceda said.

The government has been urged to tax online gaming to discourage excessive gambling, but he warned that levies and tighter regulation won’t be enough to curb addiction.