Philippines Bill Would Ban Online Gambling Ads
A member of the Philippine House of Representatives has filed a bill that would ban online gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship across every media platform in the country. Rep.
Karen Hope Garcia of Cebu's 3rd District submitted House Bill No. 10982, the "Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026," to the House Secretariat on August 26, 2026, arguing that unrestricted marketing has turned smartphones into round-the-clock casinos.
House Bill No. 10982 would prohibit the advertising, promotion, endorsement and sponsorship of online gambling across television, radio, print, billboards, social media, websites and mobile applications. The measure also targets search engine and targeted advertising, influencer, creator and affiliate promotions, and email or SMS marketing.
Sponsorships of sports events, concerts and other public gatherings by online gambling brands would also be barred, along with the use of bonuses, free bets and referral codes designed to recruit new players. The bill would additionally cover cross-promotion, meaning ads for a land-based product would be prohibited if it shares a brand with an online casino operator.
Penalties For Operators & Endorsers
Violators could face fines ranging from ₱500,000 to ₱10 million, suspension or revocation of their licenses, and up to three years in prison, according to the filed text. Public figures who endorse online gambling brands would risk fines, disgorgement of payments already received and a three to five year ban from making similar endorsements.
Social media platforms, media outlets, ad-tech companies and internet service providers that fail to comply could be fined ₱50,000 per day and risk losing their own licenses. The bill would not touch the legality of regulated gambling itself.
Instead, it targets the marketing practices used to reach new players, particularly young people and those in financial difficulty. News reporting, academic discussion and government communications are exempted, as are ads for authorized land-based casinos, PCSO lotteries, horse racing and licensed cockfighting that carry responsible gambling advisories.
A Growing Legislative Push
Garcia's bill follows Senate Bill No. 2347, the "Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act" filed by Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on July 26, 2026, which seeks a similar nationwide advertising ban.
Garcia cited the World Health Organization's 2024 fact sheet describing gambling disorder as a "health-harming addictive behavior" worsened by the commercialization and digitalization of the industry, and referenced Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation figures showing online gaming revenue reached ₱201.12 billion in 2025, more than half of PAGCOR's total ₱396.14 billion in revenue and, for the first time, ahead of land-based casinos.
"Nobody asked for a casino on their phone, open 24 hours a day," Garcia said. "It got there through an ad on a livestream, a bonus code passed around on social media, a famous influencer telling our youth that the odds are in their favor."
House Bill No. 10982 has yet to be scheduled for committee hearings. If both the House and Senate versions advance, lawmakers would need to reconcile the two measures before any advertising ban reaches the president's desk.
For now, online gambling brands operating in the Philippines continue advertising under existing PAGCOR rules while the bills work their way through Congress. Players who want to check whether an online casino is properly licensed and follows responsible marketing practices can consult its regulator's public register before signing up.
