The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said it is studying the possibility of imposing a total ban on advertisements for online gambling platforms on television and radio.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco made the statement during a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing, where lawmakers discussed measures to tighten regulation of online gambling.
Currently, ads are prohibited only during prime time, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Committee chair Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned why ads were still allowed during off-peak hours, noting that exposure remains significant even outside prime time.
In response, Tengco said PAGCOR, in coordination with the Advertising Standards Council (ASC), is reviewing the possibility of expanding the restriction to cover all broadcast hours.
He acknowledged that some television and radio stations have sought permission to continue airing online gambling ads during “dead hours” due to revenue concerns, but stressed that PAGCOR’s preference is to eliminate such advertisements entirely.
“Kung maaari talagang wala na, iyon talaga ang gusto naming ipatupad,” Tengco said.
The hearing also tackled proposals to examine the impact of online gambling on families and young people, as well as concerns over casinos being used for money laundering and PAGCOR’s effectiveness as a regulator.
Last year, PAGCOR and the ASC signed a memorandum of agreement regulating online gambling advertisements, covering prime-time television slots and outdoor advertising such as billboards.