Philippine gambling regulator under pressure over gambling ads on social media
Philippine gambling regulator PAGCOR is coming under increasing pressure over the spread of gambling advertisements on social media, despite strict new rules on online gambling payments.
Advocacy groups and politicians have pointed out that ads for casinos and betting apps continue to appear on Meta, Google, YouTube, Rakuten Viber, and X.
While TikTok has suspended such promotions, other platforms still allow them if advertisers are authorized. Google, Meta, and Viber have also been criticized for a lack of oversight.
A recent survey by Manila-based consulting firm, The Fourth Wall, found that 20% of Filipino bettors discovered gambling platforms through social media ads, and lawmakers are under pressure to push for stronger regulation.
So far, the government has taken limited steps.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has not ordered gambling ad bans across all social media sites, and while PAGCOR has banned outdoor gambling ads and signed a memorandum with the Ad Standards Council, it has not yet brought in an outright ban.
Among political opponents of gambling advertising, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has proposed legislation to prohibit gambling ads across all media, likening the plan to tobacco advertising restrictions.
Advocates say such a law is necessary to protect vulnerable users, but there is no indication that the government is prepared to support such a total ban.
While PAGOR drives to prevent advertisement of igaming, it has also acknowledged that the online gambling sector is a significant revenue driver in the country.
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