President Ferdinand Marcos is open to proposals to imposing tax and user restrictions for online gambling, Malacanang said Monday.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Office Claire Castro said'' the President is aware of what can happen to gambling addicts and he will not object as long as there is sufficient study about the tax that will be imposed."

Several lawmakers have proposed bills to impose tax or totally ban online gambling to stop its growing social costs.

Anakbayan party-list filed House Bill No. 1351 or Kontra E-Sugal Bill, which will slap a 10 percent tax on online gambling operators to fund gambling treatment and recovery programs. Five other congressmen also filed HB 721or the Anti-Online Gambling Promotions in E-Wallets Act.

In the Senate, senators Pia and Alan Cayetano have filed a bill to ban online gambling. Senator Migz Zubiri, who also filed a bill to prohibit online gambling, said the taxes earned estimated at P47 billion are not worth the social costs.

''We should ban even those authorized online games by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor),'' said Zubiri,

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David also called on the government to impose stricter regulations for online gambling.

Castro said the President also wants an intensified campaign against illegitimate or improper or unregistered online gaming sites. DMS-Velle White