PAGCOR orders license holder to end advertising sponsorship over integrity concerns
Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR has ordered one of its license holders to end its advertising agreement with an online TV program.
PAGCOR has requested the operator end its association with the TV show, which features braless women, to “ensure the integrity” of the country’s gambling industry.
An online podcast brought the issue to the attention of the regulator, however PAGCOR has neither named the gambling licensee nor the podcast that pointed out the issue.
PAGCOR Assistant Vice President Attorney Jeremy Luglug issued a response, confirming that he had called the licensee in question after the allegations were put forward and asked for the termination of the advertising agreement.
After an investigation, Luglug disagreed with some of the points put forward by the podcast. For example, the podcast claimed the licensee owned the TV show featuring undressed women, but this was found to be incorrect. Additionally, the licensee is a Filipino company and not a foreign operation, as the podcast puts forward.
Luglug said, “We will not tolerate such advertising support by any of our licensees for such very demeaning and sex-oriented show.”
Luglug also reiterated that players should only engage with online gambling through PAGCOR-licensed platforms.
Luglug added, “Our licensees have very strict Know Your Customer or KYC protocols to ensure that only those who are 21 years old and above can play. And the same is true with our e-wallet providers.”
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