Philippine senator calls for crackdown on online gambling ads
Philippine Senator Erwin Tulfo has urged regulators and broadcasters to enhance scrutiny of gambling advertisements, warning that unlicensed operators were still promoting their platforms despite existing rules.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, said, “The problem here is that while legal operators are being monitored, advertisements from illegal gambling operators continue to spread.”
He called on the country’s gambling regulator, PAGCOR, the Ad Standards Council, and broadcast media guild Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas to impose measures to prevent harmful advertising practices.
Regulators mentioned that licensed gambling operators undertake a pre-clearance process before airing ads. Still, unregulated platforms are not covered.
Tulfo highlighted that ads from offshore operators like 1xBet remained visible on both radio and social media despite being illegal.
The Ad Standards Council and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas said their authority did not extend to platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, which apply their own internal policies.
In response, Tulfo announced that representatives from Meta, TikTok, and Google would be invited to the next Games and Amusement Committee hearing on September 11.
Tulfo also filed Senate Bill 1304, the Anti-Online Gambling Act, in July. If passed, the bill would ban the operation of gambling platforms, the placing of bets, advertising or promotion of online gambling, and any related financial transactions.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
