TLDR
- Cebu Representative Karen Hope Garcia filed House Bill 10982 to ban online gambling advertising in the Philippines.
- The bill would stop ads, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships across social media, TV, radio, print, billboards, and apps.
- Legal gambling forms like casinos, PCSO lotteries, horse racing, and licensed cockpits are excluded from the ban.
- Violators could face fines up to P10 million, license cancellation, and up to three years in prison.
- Online gambling revenue hit P201.12 billion in 2025, making up more than half of the industry’s total earnings.
A lawmaker from Cebu has filed a bill that would ban advertising for online gambling across the Philippines. The measure was introduced by Third District Representative Karen Hope Garcia.
The bill is called House Bill 10982, or the proposed Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026. It targets ads, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships tied to online gambling.
These restrictions would apply across many channels. This includes social media, television, radio, print, billboards, websites, and mobile apps.
The bill also targets people who promote gambling online. This includes social media influencers, content creators, affiliate marketers, celebrities, and vloggers.
Garcia’s bill joins other proposals filed during the 20th Congress. Several lawmakers have introduced measures aimed at restricting or banning online gambling ads.
Legal Gambling Excluded
The proposed ban would not apply to gambling that is already legal and licensed. Garcia said this includes casinos, lotteries and sweepstakes run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, horse racing, and licensed cockpits.
Instead, the bill focuses only on online gambling promotions and advertising. Garcia pointed to how gambling ads now appear through livestreams, bonus codes shared online, and endorsements from public figures.
The bill also raises concerns about the financial risks tied to gambling. It states that losses can push players into poverty and debt.
Health And Financial Concerns
The bill references information from the World Health Organization. The WHO has linked gambling to health problems, financial difficulties, and gambling disorders.
A WHO fact sheet from December 2024 noted that gambling has spread quickly due to commercialization, digitization, sponsorship, and marketing. The WHO has called for an end to gambling ads, promotions, and sponsorships as one way to reduce related harm.
Garcia also cited figures from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Electronic and online gambling generated P201.12 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2025.
That figure made up 50.77% of the Philippine gaming industry’s total revenue of P396.14 billion. Online gambling became the industry’s largest contributor, passing licensed casinos.
The bill outlines penalties for those who break its rules. Fines would range from P500,000 to P10 million, alongside license cancellation and up to three years in prison.
Celebrities who advertise gambling would need to repay any money they were paid. They could also be barred from gambling endorsements for three to five years.
Platforms, media companies, and advertising technology firms could face fines of up to P50,000 per day for violations. Their licenses could also be revoked.
The bill would additionally tighten age and identity verification rules for online gambling accounts. These changes would work alongside the wider advertising restrictions.
Garcia’s proposal is one of several bills now before the 20th Congress. It focuses on advertising channels, penalties, endorsements, and player verification while leaving licensed gambling activities untouched.
