A newly introduced Senate proposal seeks to impose a complete prohibition on gambling advertisements across all media formats, establishing enforceable legal limits on betting promotions.
Speaking during his podcast on August 16, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero detailed the motivation behind Senate Bill No. 2347.
He explained that a sweeping ban is critical to curbing rising addiction rates and protecting vulnerable populations from pervasive and easily accessible betting platforms.
“That is the logic behind our proposed legislation—not to make it easy… How do we make it difficult so that they cannot simply engage in the activity,” Escudero said in his podcast.
Escudero emphasized that these restrictions must be codified into law, noting that voluntary self-regulation by the Ad Standards Council—which encourages members to remove gambling promotional materials across media channels—lacks legal enforcement power.
To fix this gap, he authored SB 2347, which outlaws all forms of gambling advertisements and sponsorships across television, radio, print, online spaces, and social media networks.
He noted that regulating commercial promotions serves as a foundational step toward reducing betting-related harms.
“What the law needs to address is the aspect of advertising, because you need to regulate private companies in that area,” he explained.
The lawmaker suggested that the Philippines emulate the regulatory structure applied to the tobacco sector. He pointed out that Republic Act No. 9211 originally banned cigarette marketing before expanded mandates required graphic health warnings on packaging.
While international bans on tobacco advertising are widespread, Escudero observed that strict gambling promotion bans remain relatively rare globally.
He pointed to specific global models, including Spain’s limits on broadcast windows and welcome bonuses, Italy’s Dignity Decree banning media ads and sports sponsorships, New Zealand’s prohibition on online affiliate marketing, and China’s total ban on real-money internet gambling ads.
He stressed that these global examples underscore the significance of the Philippines pursuing stronger consumer protections and tighter industry controls.
Beyond banning general advertisements, SB No. 2347 prohibits celebrity endorsements, influencer promotional campaigns, betting bonus incentives, and gambling-related material across electronic, broadcast, print, and digital spaces.