A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to ban the promotion of online gambling in the country as public concern grows about the dangers that it poses to Filipinos.

Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Nelson Legacion has filed House Bill No. 2360, which aims to ban all advertisements and sponsorships promoting online gambling platforms across the media industry, including television, print, billboards and social media.

“Online gambling platforms have become all too accessible, tempting even the most reasonable individuals into potentially destructive behaviors,” Legacion said in the explanatory note of the measure he filed last July 28.

He cited the increasing number of gambling addiction cases, especially among minors and other vulnerable sectors. HB 2360, he said, would target addiction at its root by preventing exposure, similar to the campaign strategy mounted against tobacco advertising.

“The social risks are mounting,” Legacion said, pointing out many instances of how families became mired in debt and anxiety, as well as strained relationships caused by a member’s gambling addiction.

“We’ve seen families devastated by losses from online betting,” the lawmaker said, adding that he had seen firsthand the negative effects that addiction to online gaming has had on a member of his staff.

“[The staff member] has given his permission for me to cite his personal experience as an example on the bad effects of online gambling, as I go around and launch the campaign for the passage of this bill,” Legacion said.

Advertising platforms

If enacted, the law will impose a total ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling in platforms such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, outdoor billboards, websites, social media, and online messaging applications.

It will also prohibit online gambling companies from sponsoring sports events, concerts, cultural activities, and artistic productions, including naming rights for events or venues.

Philippine mainstream and digital media are saturated with gambling ads, and have infiltrated public spaces, cinemas, social media feeds like Facebook Reels, and even during local festivals.

Advertising strategies for online gambling involve well-known entertainers, influencers, and video bloggers with a high number of followers, making Facebook and YouTube heavy channels for gambling ads, according to Legacion.

HB 2360 will bar the use of “open graph protocol” (OGP) logos or branding on products that are appealing to children and teens, such as toys, video games and sports merchandise.

OGP is a code used by websites to control how their pages appear when shared on social media platforms (such as Facebook, X and LinkedIn), which displays the image or logo specified in the website’s open graph metadata.

Violators of the proposed law can face fines starting at ₱300,000, with higher penalties for repeat offenders.

Businesses found to be repeat offenders can have their licenses revoked, while foreigners found guilty can be deported and banned from returning to the country.

Anti-gambling campaign

According to Legacion, online gambling has become deeply ingrained in Filipino digital life. The Philippines has over 97 million internet users, with nearly 79% of them actively using social media, supposedly making it a “fertile ground” for aggressive online gambling promotions, he said.

HB 2360 mandates a nationwide information drive to draw public awareness, especially among students and young people, of the dangers of gambling and how it can affect mental health and financial stability.

This campaign will be led by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Health experts, church leaders and civic groups have been pushing a campaign to recognize gambling addiction as a public health issue. Moreover, the World Health Organization has already classified
gambling disorder as a mental illness, placing it on the same level as alcohol and drug addiction.

Legacion expressed concern about how online gambling ads are often gamified and endorsed by influencers and celebrities, and make betting seem fun, harmless, and even aspirational. Some mimic mobile game features, use flashy designs, and push “instant win” messages that can easily hook even casual users, he said.

The lawmaker anticipates the strong resistance that HB 2360 will meet as it gets tackled by the 20th Congress, including fears of revenue losses for the government. But he is unfazed.

“This isn’t about killing an industry. It’s about saving lives,” Legacion said.