PAGCOR Orders Nationwide Ban on Gambling Adverts in Public Spaces

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has launched a sweeping crackdown on gambling advertisements, ordering all licensed operators to remove outdoor and transport-based promotional materials by mid-August.

In a memorandum circulated to gaming licensees, suppliers, system providers and venue operators, the state regulator directed the dismantling of all gambling-related adverts displayed on billboards, public transport and similar media. This includes advertising placed on trains, buses, jeepneys and taxis.

The move forms part of PAGCOR’s broader effort to reduce public exposure to gambling promotions and to protect vulnerable groups, particularly young people.

“While we regulate the industry to help generate national revenues, we must also ensure that we do not foster a culture of gambling addiction,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H Tengco in an official statement.

He added that only responsible or institutional gambling campaigns would be permitted in future—and solely with prior written approval from the regulator.

In a further step to tighten controls, PAGCOR is now requiring all stakeholders to submit a detailed inventory of existing billboard and wallscape advertising. The list must include specifics such as dimensions, materials used, advertising contract expiry dates and corresponding Ad Standards Council permit numbers.

The directive marks one of the most significant advertising reforms for the sector in the Philippines to date and signals the regulator’s growing focus on minimising the social impact of gambling while maintaining oversight of an industry that contributes considerably to national revenues.

In other Asian gambling news, Hotdog Gaming has teamed up with Pop Mart to launch Asia’s first IP-powered slot trilogy.