Cebu Third District Rep. Karen Hope Garcia has filed House Bill No. 10982, the proposed “Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026,” seeking a nationwide ban on advertising, promotion, endorsement and sponsorship tied to online gambling.
The measure would cover television, radio, print, billboards websites, mobile applications and social media. It would also restrict search and targeted advertising, influencer and affiliate campaigns, email and SMS marketing, bonuses, free bets and referral codes, along with event sponsorships.
“Nobody asked for a casino on their phone, open twenty-four hours a day. 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,” she added.
Health Concerns Underpin Proposed Restrictions
Garcia submitted the measure on August 26, citing the World Health Organization’s December 2024 fact sheet. The WHO describes gambling disorder as a “health-harming addictive behavior” and links gambling’s expansion with commercialization and digitalization.
“Every smartphone is now a potential 24-hour casino,” Garcia said.
In a Facebook post, Garcia said in Cebuano: “In this day and age, commercials for gambling are already on cellphones, which are like a 24-hour casino, so it needs to be stopped.”
The WHO recommends ending gambling advertising, promotions and sponsorships as part of population-wide measures to reduce gambling-related harm. Garcia also cited PAGCOR figures showing online gaming revenue reached ₱201.12 billion in 2025, exceeding land-based casino revenue for the first time and accounting for more than half of PAGCOR’s ₱396.14 billion total revenue.
“Every peso of that growth came from an ad, a sponsorship, or an influencer post that reached someone’s son, someone’s father, someone’s breadwinner,” she said.
Licensed Gambling Would Remain Permitted
The bill would allow advertising for authorised casinos, PCSO lotteries and sweepstakes, horse racing and licensed cockfighting, subject to responsible gaming requirements. News reporting, academic discussion and government communications would also be exempt.
Violators could face fines of P500,000 to P10 million, licence suspension or cancellation and imprisonment of up to three years. The bill would also tighten age and identity verification for online gambling accounts.
Garcia’s proposal follows Senate Bill No. 2347, filed by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, which also seeks a nationwide prohibition on gambling advertising.
Industry adviser Marie Antonette Quiogue has warned that a complete advertising ban could strengthen offshore and illegal operators. “Every country that has enacted a total gambling advertising ban, starting with Italy in 2018, ended up with a larger illegal market,” Quiogue said.
“A total advertising ban will not stop these promotions. It will make them the only ones left,” she said. “If licensed revenue falls after a ban, that shows less recorded gambling, not less gambling.”
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco has previously favoured tighter regulation over a blanket prohibition, warning that a total ban could affect jobs and government revenues without eliminating illegal operators.
“When both sides are silenced on paper, the side that ignores paper wins,” Quiogue said.
Source:
“Rep. Garcia files bill seeking ban on online gambling ads, promotions”, cebudailynews.inquirer.net, September 1, 2026
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