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Cebu Third District Representative Karen Hope Garcia has filed a bill seeking to prohibit advertisements and marketing for online gambling in the Philippines.
House Bill 10982, known as the proposed Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026, would ban online gambling advertisements, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships across social media, television, radio, print, billboards, websites, and mobile applications.
The measure would also prohibit promotional activities by social media influencers, content creators, affiliate marketers, celebrities, and vloggers. Garcia’s proposal joins several other bills filed during the 20th Congress that seek to restrict or prohibit online gambling advertising.
Legal Gambling Excluded
Garcia said the proposed ban would not cover legal and licensed forms of gambling. These include casinos, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office lotteries and sweepstakes, horse racing, and licensed cockpits.
The bill focuses on online gambling promotions and advertising rather than the licensed gambling activities excluded from its scope. Garcia said online gambling had become available through advertising on livestreams, bonus codes shared on social media, and endorsements by public figures.
The measure cites the financial risks associated with gambling. It states that losses can push players into poverty and debt, creating financial difficulties for people who continue to gamble online.
Health And Financial Problems
According to the World Health Organization, gambling may be associated with health problems, financial difficulties, and even gambling disorders. The WHO’s fact sheet published in December 2024 also noted the fast diffusion of gambling due to commercialization, digitization, sponsorship, and marketing.
As one way to prevent and minimize gambling issues among the population, the WHO calls for an end to gambling advertisements, promotions, and sponsorships.
Another piece of information provided by Garcia comes from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation about the revenue generated by the electronic and online gambling sector at P201.12 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2025. The segment accounted for 50.77% of the Philippine gaming industry’s total gross gaming revenue of P396.14 billion and became its largest contributor, surpassing licensed casinos.
Penalties Under The Bill
Those violating the bill will be punished by imposing fines from P500,000 to P10 million, a license cancellation, and imprisonment for up to 3 years.
Celebrities who advertise gambling will also be required to pay back the amounts that were paid to them. They could additionally be barred from gambling endorsements for between 3 and 5 years.
Platforms, media companies, advertising technology firms, and other entities that violate the proposed law could face fines of up to P50,000 per day. They could also face possible revocation of their licenses.
The penalties would apply to the entities covered by the bill if they violate its proposed restrictions on online gambling advertising, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships.
Verification Rules Also Tightened
House Bill 10982 would also strengthen age and identity verification requirements for online gambling accounts. The proposed changes would add verification measures to the wider restrictions on online gambling advertising and marketing.
The bill combines an advertising ban with financial penalties, possible license cancellation, imprisonment, restrictions on public-figure endorsements, and stronger account verification requirements.
Garcia’s proposal places online gambling promotions across digital and traditional media under review. It would prohibit promotional activity by public figures and marketing intermediaries while excluding legal and licensed gambling forms identified in the measure.
The bill is among the proposals in the 20th Congress seeking to restrict online gambling advertising, with its provisions now focused on advertising channels, penalties, endorsements, and player verification.
Source: Sun Star
