The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) yesterday ordered the removal of all gambling-related billboards and advertisements throughout the country.
PAGCOR’s management directed all gaming venue operators and licensees to submit an inventory of their existing billboard and wallscape ads by July 16, detailing their size, material, location, rental contract expiration, and Ad Standards Council permit number.
All out-of-home gambling advertisements — including those on billboards, trains, buses, jeepneys, taxis, and other public spaces — must then be taken down by August 15, the agency said.
In a statement yesterday, PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said the move underscores the agency’s commitment to fostering a safer and more responsible gaming environment in the Philippines.
“While PAGCOR is mandated to regulate the gaming industry and generate revenues for nation-building, we do not want to encourage a culture of gambling addiction,” he said.
“Regulating excessive and pervasive gambling advertisements is a critical step in protecting vulnerable sectors of society, especially the youth,” Tengco added.
Moving forward, he stressed that only institutional or responsible gaming campaigns will be allowed, subject to PAGCOR approval.
Tengco, however, insisted that problems linked to online gambling in the country are largely caused by illegal websites, not those licensed by the state gaming regulator.
The remark came after several lawmakers filed bills seeking to regulate or ban online gambling.
For his part, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno lauded PAGCOR’s order to remove all e-gambling billboard ads.
“This is a significant win, as their directive aligns with one of the key objectives of House Bill No. 1351, or the Kontra E-Sugal bill, recently filed by the Akbayan Reform bloc,” he said in a statement.
“We also urge PAGCOR to expand this order to include gambling-related advertisements on social media platforms to curb their reach and influence,” Diokno added.
Likewise, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) ordered content creators to stop promoting illegal online gambling platforms.
“Several influencers and content creators promoting illegal gambling content have been identified,” CICC Deputy Executive Director and DICT Assistant Secretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said at a press conference.
With this, Paraiso said erring influencers and content creators have “until the end of this week to take down any materials promoting illegal online gambling.”
“Those who fail to comply will face legal action,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed the commitment of financial technology (fintech) companies to tighten controls on online gambling, calling it a necessary step to protect Filipinos from addiction and financial ruin.
“As the proliferation of online gambling is deeply intertwined with fintech advancements, collaborative action among fintech companies, gaming operators, and law enforcement is vital and necessary,” he said.
The senator made the remarks in response to a statement from the FinTech Alliance Philippines, which pledged to enforce stricter safeguards and control mechanisms on the use of digital payment platforms for online gambling activities.
The group said it would collaborate with regulators and adopt stronger due diligence protocols to limit abuse and minimize exposure to unregulated online gaming.
“We remain aligned with the BSP in ensuring that access to payment channels for online licensed gaming is strictly controlled, and that all FinTech Alliance members adopt robust due diligence measures,” its statement read.
Earlier, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) joined calls from the public and lawmakers to tighten regulations surrounding online gambling, calling it a new plague that destroys individuals and families.
