Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) — President Rodrigo Duterte may lift the moratorium on new casinos, his spokesperson said.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said this is possible, following Duterte's State of the Nation Address, when he urged Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chief Andrea Domingo to promote gambling more. He said Duterte may just be referring to having more legal online gambling operations.

"That would be the logical consequence of what he said," Panelo said.

In his speech on July 22, Duterte praised PAGCOR for raising P16 billion in revenues in 2017.

In 2018, the gaming regulator imposed a moratorium on new casino operations in the country, following Duterte's order.