Senate Committee on Games and Amusement Chairperson Senator Erwin Tulfo has urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Ad Standards Council (ASC), and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to immediately review advertisements related to online gambling.
In a meeting held recently, the agencies discussed possible measures to strengthen efforts against online gambling addiction.
Officials explained that a pre-clearing process currently exists for advertisements of legal operators, but this does not cover illegal online gambling platforms.
“The problem is that while legal operators are being monitored, advertisements from illegal gambling operators continue to proliferate,” Tulfo stressed.
“Whether on radio or on Facebook, you’ll hear ads from operators like 1xBet, even though they are illegal.”
“Whether on radio or on Facebook, you’ll hear ads from operators like 1xBet, even though they are illegal,” the legislator added.
The agencies then shared that they will implement an advertisement template where only responsible online gambling slogans would be allowed.
However, the ASC and KBP clarified that they do not regulate advertisements on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms, as these have their own internal rules.
“I will invite representatives from Meta, TikTok, and Google to the upcoming Games and Amusement panel hearing on September 11 to discuss stricter regulation.”
Because of this, the lawmaker announced that he will invite representatives from Meta, TikTok, and Google to the upcoming Games and Amusement panel hearing on September 11 to discuss stricter regulation.
Law enforcement agencies and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will also be called to discuss how to curb the operations of illegal online gambling sites.
Among those present at the meeting were PAGCOR Chairman Al Tengco and Assistant Vice President Vina Oca; ASC Chairperson Golda Roldan, President Anna Locsin, Vice President Jun Nicdao Jr., Directors Herman Basbaño, Noel Galvez, Miko David, and Executive Director Robbie Aligada; and KBP representative Bobby Barreiro.
Earlier, Tulfo also filed Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Anti-Online Gambling Act,” which seeks to prohibit the operation of gambling platforms/software, betting on online gambling, advertising or promoting gambling, and conducting gambling-related transactions.
