PAGCOR, the gaming regulator of the Philippines, announced that the gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the country experienced a slight decline in Q3 2025, reaching approximately...
Philippines to Ban Online Gambling Ads Amid Addiction Concerns
Nicasio Conti, former anti-corruption commissioner, urges the Philippines to ban online gambling ads, warning of rising addiction and harm to vulnerable communities.
Former commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Nicasio Conti, believes that the romanticization of gambling through online ads normalizes destructive behavior, especially among individuals who are at-risk. He now heads Capstone Intel Corporation, a private intelligence agency.
In a statement reported by Manila Bulletin, Conti said:
“It’s time we draw the line. We cannot allow profit to come at the cost of broken homes and lost futures. The glamorization of gambling through aggressive ads is normalizing addiction and destroying lives quietly.”
He described online gambling as a “silent epidemic” that, under the cover of entertainment, targets gullible users. Conti raised concerns about the use of e-wallets and online banks to fund gambling activities that blurred the lines between legal and harmful transactions.
Conti added:
“Gambling can no longer be treated as a private vice – it is a public issue with far-reaching consequences on mental health, poverty, and corruption.”
He urges lawmakers to respond with regulatory reform and restrict gambling advertisements that align with global standards. Several jurisdictions, including some in Europe and Australia, have already limited or banned gambling-related advertising to lower societal harm.
Conti highlighted that existing laws should be updated to match the “realities of the digital age,” and strongly suggests protection against what he called “debt, digital manipulation, and unchecked advertising.”
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced a huge increase of 49% in net income for the first three quarters of 2025, amounting in $243 million.
...
