TLDR Cebu Representative Karen Hope Garcia filed House Bill 10982 to ban online gambling advertising in the Philippines. The bill would stop ads, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships across social media, TV, radio, print, billboards, and apps. Legal gambling forms like casinos, PCSO lotteries, horse racing, and licensed cockpits are excluded from the ban. Violators could face fines up to P10 million, license cancellation, and up to three years in prison. Online gambling revenue hit P201.12 billion in 2025, making up more than half of the industry’s total earnings.
A lawmaker from Cebu has filed a bill that would ban advertising for online gambling across the Philippines. The measure was introduced by Third District Representative Karen Hope Garcia.
The bill is called House Bill 10982, or the proposed Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026. It targets ads, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships tied to online gambling.
These restrictions would apply across many channels. This includes social media, television, radio, print, billboards, websites, and mobile apps.
The bill also targets people who promote gambling online. This includes social media influencers, content creators, affiliate marketers, celebrities, and vloggers.
Garcia’s bill joins other proposals filed during the 20th Congress. Several lawmakers have introduced measures aimed at restricting or banning online gambling ads.
Legal Gambling Excluded
The proposed ban would not apply to gambling that is already legal and licensed. Garcia said this includes casinos, lotteries and sweepstakes run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, horse racing, and licensed cockpits.
Instead, the bill focuses only on online gambling promotions and advertising. Garcia pointed to how gambling ads now appear through livestreams, bonus codes shared online, and endorsements from public figures.
The bill also raises concerns about the financial risks tied to gambling. It states that losses can push players into poverty and