Philippine lawmaker proposes nationwide ban on online gambling advertising

Cebu Third District Representative Karen Hope Garcia has introduced House Bill 10982, which would prohibit online gambling advertising, sponsorships, endorsements and promotions across traditional and digital media while imposing new obligations on operators, influencers and advertising platforms.

Philippine lawmakers are considering another major restriction on gambling marketing after Cebu Third District Representative Karen Hope Garcia filed House Bill 10982, the proposed Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026. The measure was submitted on August 26 and seeks to prohibit public advertising and promotion of online gambling throughout the country.

The proposal covers a particularly broad range of marketing channels. Television, radio, newspapers, billboards, social media, streaming services, websites and mobile applications would fall within the prohibition, alongside paid search advertising, targeted digital campaigns, email and SMS promotions. Affiliate marketing, referral schemes and promotional activity involving influencers, vloggers, celebrities, athletes and other public figures would also be covered.

Sports and event sponsorships linked to online gambling would also be restricted. Garcia has argued that the accessibility of digital gambling, combined with aggressive promotion through smartphones and social media, has significantly increased consumer exposure, particularly among younger audiences and people vulnerable to financial difficulties.

The legislation would not amount to a general ban on advertising every form of legal gambling in the Philippines. Licensed land-based casinos, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office lotteries and sweepstakes, authorised horse racing and licensed cockfighting would remain outside the online-gambling prohibition, although applicable advertising and responsible-gambling rules would continue to apply. Journalism, academic research and certain non-commercial communications would also be exempt.

Licensed online operators would retain a limited ability to provide factual information through their own platforms to registered customers who have completed age and identity verification. The bill proposes a minimum age of 21 and stronger verification measures, including checks against government records and biometric or liveness verification.

Violations could carry significant sanctions. Individuals or businesses could face fines ranging from PHP500,000 to PHP10 million, possible licence cancellation and imprisonment of up to three years. Public figures involved in prohibited endorsements could be required to surrender endorsement payments and could be barred from future gambling endorsements for three to five years. Platforms, media businesses and advertising-technology companies could face continuing fines of up to PHP50,000 per day for violations.

The bill arrives as Philippine regulators are already tightening gambling marketing controls. PAGCOR previously ordered the removal of gambling-related billboard and other out-of-home advertising and, in June 2026, instructed regulated businesses to use available advertising spaces to promote the country’s 24/7 National Problem Gambling Helpline. Existing PAGCOR rules also impose responsible-gambling and age-related requirements on gambling advertising.

Garcia’s proposal would go considerably further by placing broad restrictions on online-gambling marketing directly into legislation. It also follows a separate Senate proposal introduced by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, which seeks wider restrictions covering gambling advertising generally rather than online gambling alone.

House Bill 10982 has not become law. After being filed on August 26, it was read in the House on September 1 and referred to the Committee on Games and Amusements. Its progress will therefore depend on committee consideration and subsequent stages in Congress, but the proposal adds to growing political pressure for substantially tighter controls on the visibility of gambling in the Philippines.