They are everywhere in Metro Manila, and it is not a good look.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) released a memorandum on July 7, 2025 demanding that online gambling companies remove its billboard and digital ads in an effort to curb gambling addiction and reduce financial exploitation. All ads must be removed on or before August 15, 2025. This includes ad wraps around vehicles and pop-up ads online.
“All advertisements must have been taken down by Aug. 15, 2025 (Friday),” PAGCOR said in the memo signed by Ma. Vina Claudette P. Oca and Atty. Jeremy B. Luglug, assistant vice presidents of the Gaming Licensing Development and Electronic Gaming Licensing Departments, respectively.
In the same memorandum, PAGCOR also requested that every gambling company must submit an inventory list of all billboard and wallscape ads used by July 16. This inventory must include specific details such as size, location, materials used, rental expiry, and ASC number.
In addition, PAGCOR also announced that no replacement ads shall be installed to the formerly used billboards unless it is for educational and institutional purposes only.
It’s about time as well. We are also expecting that, in the coming weeks or months, PAGCOR also issues influencers and celebrities to no longer promote gambling on their platforms.
While the industry is called “gaming” and even PAGCOR styles themselves as “gaming corporation”, it should be noted that online gambling is quite different to online gaming. Online gaming is played as a hobby, pastime, or for work. Meanwhile, online gambling, as colorful and “gamey” their games look, are intended to suck the soul and wealth out of you, even to the last centavo.
Source: Insider Philippines
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