
12/07/2025
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has ordered the immediate removal of all billboards and other outdoor advertisements related to online gambling, in response to growing calls from the Church, several lawmakers, and various organizations to put an end to the aggressive promotion of gambling to the public.
Based on a memorandum issued by PAGCOR, all licensees, suppliers, and operators of electronic gaming platforms are directed to remove their out-of-home (OOH) advertisements no later than August 15, 2025.
The directive is said to be part of the agency’s initial efforts to address issues associated with e-gambling, such as addiction and the destruction of livelihoods, particularly among poor Filipinos.
PAGCOR also stated that a new set of advertising guidelines for gambling-related content is being prepared, in coordination with the Ad Standards Council (ASC). These guidelines are expected to prohibit the placement of gambling ads near churches, schools, and hospitals, as well as ban gambling-related advertisements on television during primetime hours.
PAGCOR and the ASC are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 16, 2025, to formally begin the implementation of the new rules.
Meanwhile, the Fintech Alliance Philippines, the country’s largest group of digital payment providers—has announced that it will enforce stricter internal controls to limit access to online gambling platforms. Similarly, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has also expressed plans to release new guidelines to address the growing issue of online gambling in the country.
It will be recalled that Cardinal Pablo David of the Diocese of Kalookan, who also serves as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has strongly criticized the spread of online gaming in the country, calling it a root cause of many societal problems.
According to data from PAGCOR, half of its record-breaking Php 112 billion revenue in 2024 came from online gaming, equivalent to Php 46.79 billion.
* The Tagalog version can be read in the comment section.