Philippine regulator considers ban on gambling advertising

PAGCOR said it’s considering a complete ban on TV and radio ads.

The Philippines.- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is considering stricter controls on advertising. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco noted that gambling advertisements are already banned during primetime television and radio slots between 5.30pm and 8.30pm but said the regulator is now considering a ban across all broadcast hours.

Tengco said PAGCOR and the Advertising Standards Council (ASC) are reviewing whether to extend the restriction throughout the day. While some broadcasters have requested permission to air ads during off-peak hours to protect advertising revenue, Tengco said, “If it’s possible to completely ban them, that’s what we want to enforce.”

The renewed scrutiny comes as senators examine concerns that weak enforcement could expose minors to gambling. Committee chair Senator Erwin Tulfo said gambling regulation is now “a matter of consumer protection, digital safety, and protection of the financial system.”

PAGCOR is tightening its know-your-customer (KYC) requirements to close loopholes that previously allowed users to access platforms before completing identity verification.

“We are now tightening the rules so that even before they can deposit, they must already submit their initial KYC requirements,” said Jessa Mariz Fernandez, officer-in-charge of PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department.

Under the revised process, players must provide their full name, contact details, a valid government-issued ID and a real-time selfie with the ID before making a deposit. The move aims to prevent the use of borrowed or fake identities, an issue repeatedly raised during earlier hearings.

During the hearing, Tengco clarified that while there are around 32 million registered online gaming accounts in the country, active players number closer to 10 million, noting that many users maintain multiple accounts.

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PAGCOR said it’s considering a complete ban on TV and radio ads. The Philippines.- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is considering stricter controls on advertising. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco noted that gambling advertisements are already banned during primetime television and radio slots between…