Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178038701700120250711-online-gambling-JC-0493-Edit.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA —  Lawmakers slammed on Tuesday the reappearance of supposedly “happy-looking” online gambling-related advertisements on billboards after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) made commitments on making sure ads would have “very strong messages against gambling.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/11/pagcor-orders-takedown-of-gambling-billboards-1429">PAGCOR orders takedown of gambling billboards</a></div><p>Bukidnon 3rd District Representative Audrey Zubiri said PAGCOR must look into its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) regarding this.</p><p>“You said na there would be very strong messages against gambling… These ads are still clearly targeted at the vulnerable in our sectors, which are children kasi you’ll still see very creative, happy-looking animals,” Zubiri said during the House Committee on Games and Amusements’ hearing on Monday.</p><p>“I think we should look into this MOU that you have because clearly, it is making a mockery out of the conversation, out of the discussion we had, which was that we all commit to take care and protect our children, to protect our society from the ills of gambling,” Zubiri added.</p><p>PAGCOR Gaming Licensing and Development Department Assistant Vice President Ma. Vina Claudette Oca said they are still fixing the implementing rules and guidelines (IRG) regarding online gambling advertisements, which may be released by July.</p><p>They are making sure the guidelines will not duplicate what the ASC already has as a penalty mechanism, Oca added.</p><p>“Inaayos pa po namin with the ASC. Tuluy-tuloy po ‘yung coordination namin sa kanila with regard to the IRG na ginagawa po namin. It is expected to be released sometime July po,” Oca said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SPEED UP GUIDELINES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>But with almost a year having passed since the committee began tackling the billboard advertisements, Bukidnon 2nd District Jonathan Keith Flores told PAGCOR to speed up the creation of the guidelines.</p><p>“Can we speed up lang itong IRG na sinasabi mo kasi it’s been almost a year… They look for ways around it. And instead of controlling it or regulating it properly, parang you’re just like allowing them to look for workaround. They work around the regulations that you have temporarily put on there,” Flores told PAGCOR.</p><p>Oca admitted most of the billboards flagged by lawmakers underwent PAGCOR and ASC review.</p><p>Zubiri then asked why supposedly no one had picked up on the subliminal messaging in these advertisements.</p><p>“Are you telling me no one in your entire board was able to pick up on the subliminal messaging behind those ads? I mean, don’t tell me hindi niyo na-pick up na ‘lucky moments,’ ‘limit,’ pero ang liit ng ‘limit.’ Ang makikita mo lang ‘yung ‘lucky,’” Zubiri said.</p><p>House panel chairperson and Cavite 6th District Representative Antonio Ferrer suggested that PAGCOR prohibit advertising of online gambling pending the release of the IRG– a proposal supported by other lawmakers.</p><p>Oca vowed to respond to the suggestion by next week. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PERCENTAGE OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING SITES LOWER</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Zubiri commended the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) for the lower percentage of illegal gambling sites accessible in the country compared to what was announced last year.</p><p>Forty percent of gambling sites are illegal while 60 percent are legal, according to CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso.</p><p>Paraiso added he believes they gained &quot;significant ground&quot; in the fight against illegal online gambling.</p><p>The ratio flipped in comparison to what PAGCOR declared in August 2025, saying over 60 percent of online gambling sites accessed in the Philippines were illegal.</p><p>“The ratio now stands at 60 percent legal to 40 percent illegal online gambling. We have taken down 120,000 sites– illegal online gambling sites,” Paraiso told lawmakers.</p><p>The House Committee on Games and Amusements also approved the substitute bill and committee report on House bills 141 and 3237 about fixing the share of LGUs hosting gaming operations licensed or operated by PAGCOR in the proceeds of franchise tax.</p><p>“The above five percent (5 percent) franchise tax shall be remitted as follows: Three percent (3 percent) to the national government and two percent (2 percent) to the local government unity (LGU) where PAGCOR-operated or licensed gaming operations such as, but not limited to, land-based casinos, online casinos, bingo, electronic games (e-games) and electronic bingo (e-bingo), are located: provided, that the two-percent (2 percent) share shall be paid directly to the LGU concerned,” the substitute bill reads. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a2aUXXYpdc0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NJLqSBbwcao?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Bukidnon 3rd District Representative Audrey Zubiri said PAGCOR must look into its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) regarding this.</p>

Bukidnon 3rd District Representative Audrey Zubiri said PAGCOR must look into its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) regarding this.

Lawmakers slam return of ‘happy-looking’ online gambling-related billboard ads

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Lawmakers slam return of ‘happy-looking’ online gambling-related billboard ads

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 02, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

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Updated June 02, 2026 04:10 PM PHT

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