Philippine Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero has introduced legislation that would prohibit gambling-related advertising and sponsorships nationwide. He argued that the rapid expansion of the sector should be accompanied by stronger safeguards to protect minors and other vulnerable groups.
Senate Bill No. 2347 would ban gambling advertisements across television, radio, print, online and social media platforms, while also prohibiting celebrity endorsements, influencer marketing and branded promotional campaigns.
Escudero said the proposal mirrors the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, which imposed strict advertising restrictions on tobacco products to reduce public exposure, particularly among young people. The bill would also require responsible gambling advisories in permitted consumer communications and would place the Ad Standards Council's recent voluntary restrictions into a national legal framework.
The senator noted that the Philippine gambling industry generated approximately PHP396.13bn (US$6.50bn) in gross gaming revenue during fiscal year 2025, driven by the continued growth of online and digital gaming platforms.
While acknowledging the sector's contribution to government revenue, employment and tourism, he argued that increasingly sophisticated gambling promotions present growing public health and socioeconomic concerns.
If enacted, the legislation would provide a one-year transition period for operators and advertisers to remove or update existing marketing materials before the rules take effect.
Violations would carry escalating penalties, starting with fines of up to PHP200,000 or imprisonment of up to one year for a first offense, rising to fines of PHP500,000, prison terms of up to three years and possible revocation of business permits or licenses for repeat violations.
The bill also calls for government-led education campaigns promoting responsible gambling, mental health awareness and consumer protection.
The proposal follows recent voluntary action by the Ad Standards Council, which introduced self-regulatory restrictions on gambling-related imagery and promotional materials across media platforms
