A proposal has been put forward in the Philippines to impose a total ban on gambling advertising

Senator Francis Escudero has tabled a bill that would ban gambling advertising from all platforms at once. The ban would cover both celebrity endorsements and campaigns featuring influencers. Offenders face a fine of up to 500,000 pesos and up to three years in prison.

The bill has been registered as Senate Bill 2347 and was announced on 31 July 2026. Escudero cites the ban on tobacco advertising, which has been in place in the country since 2008, and believes it is time for gambling to follow suit. He describes the purpose of the measure as protecting minors and other vulnerable groups, as well as enabling consumers to make more informed choices.

What exactly is covered by the ban

Advertising is being removed from television, radio, print media, the internet and social media. Advertising contracts with celebrities and campaigns featuring influencers are covered as a separate category.

For affiliate traffic, this is more significant than media buying itself. The ban covers not only the usual channels, but also promotion via personal accounts, to which the market had shifted following the initial restrictions.

The fine is up to 500,000 pesos, with a prison sentence of up to three years.

The regulator was moving in the same direction

PAGCOR has already restricted advertising on television and radio during prime time, from 17:30 to 20:30. The measure remains in force today.

PAGCOR’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alejandro Tengco, told senators that the regulator is also considering the option of a complete ban on advertising. Escudero’s initiative coincides with what PAGCOR had been considering independently.

The market is falling even without a ban

In the first half of 2026, PAGCOR’s revenue fell by 27 per cent to 38.9 billion pesos, approximately 472.3 million pounds. The iGaming segment was the main contributor to the decline, with revenue down 41.85 per cent.

The results were also affected by the situation in the Middle East, which has hit the country’s economy. Advertising remains one of the few levers operators are using to try to maintain turnover.

The previous attempt got off to the same start

In 2025, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed the Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025, proposing a complete ban on online gambling. He described gambling addiction in the country as a ‘silent epidemic’ and a ‘social cancer’ that would only continue to spread.

The bill has been sitting in committee since 30 July 2025 and has made almost no progress. In May, when the Senate leadership changed, President Ferdinand Marcos did not include the bill among his priorities.

Escudero’s initiative starts from the same point. The difference is that it targets advertising rather than the licence itself, and therefore meets with less opposition from those who are not prepared to shut down the market.