Online gaming in the Philippines has once again come under the spotlight after PAGCOR announced plans to tighten regulation in response to calls for prohibition.
The regulator’s Chair and CEO, Alejandro Tengco, revealed plans to consider a complete ban on gambling advertising. A ban on TV and radio commercials during peak broadcast hours — from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM — had already been implemented.
“Radio and TV stations are asking if they can still show the ads during dead slots, mainly for advertising revenue. But for us, if it’s possible to completely ban them, that’s what we want to enforce,” said Tengco.
PAGCOR, together with other government agencies, faced questions from anti-gambling activists, including Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Erwin Tulfo.
Gatchalian proposed several measures to further tighten industry regulation, including a minimum betting age of 21 and a mandatory minimum deposit of 10,000 Philippine pesos (≈$170).
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who filed the “Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025” in July aiming for a full ban on online gambling, was absent from the Committee on Games and Amusement meeting.
During the two-hour hearing, PAGCOR highlighted the steps already taken to protect the regulated sector, such as strengthened KYC requirements, removal of gambling-related billboards, and the launch of an online self-exclusion system.
Tengco also informed senators about the indicators of the regulated industry, stating that around 10 million active players are using 32 million registered accounts.
Senators also emphasized the continued popularity of e-sabong (cockfighting) in the Philippines, criticizing law enforcement for failing to curb the activity. “You’ve managed to shut down some small e-sabong sites, but you still haven’t taken down the largest one in the country,” Tulfo said, addressing the heads of the nation’s intelligence agencies.
He urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to raid e-sabong venues, stop live broadcasts, and confiscate equipment.
An August study by The Fourth Wall again highlighted concerns about the continued availability of e-sabong. Research Director John Brylle L. Bae noted that the game remains “easily accessible on unregulated platforms, underscoring persistent enforcement challenges.”
PAGCOR reaffirmed its commitment to fighting the black market and praised the use of AI-powered tools to identify and target illegal platforms.
Opponents of the prohibition measures warn that shutting down the regulated sector will simply push players toward the black market, where protection measures are not mandatory.
“Illegal gambling operators undermine our laws, exploit our people, and put our communities at risk,” Tengco said previously.
“These unauthorised platforms do not follow responsible gaming standards, do not pay taxes, and put players at risk of data theft and fraud.”
Although no final decision has been made regarding the closure of the online gaming sector, PAGCOR’s efforts to modernize its regulatory framework and strengthen player protection may help convince lawmakers of the benefits of maintaining a strong regulated sector.
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