Pasig City Acts to Limit Gambling Reach Through Ban on Ads, Promotions

According to the Manila Bulletin, Mayor Vico Sotto announced the measure on December 8th, stating that the new rules are intended to reduce gambling-related harm among residents.

Under Ordinance No. 26 s-2025, authored by Councilor Paul Senogat, the city will prohibit billboards, signage, sponsorships, and all forms of gambling-related advertising or promotional activity within Pasig’s jurisdiction. The policy targets the growing visibility of gambling marketing, which city officials say has contributed to rising cases of addiction and financial distress among Pasigueños.

Sotto said that although certain aspects of gambling regulation fall outside local authority—such as national and online operations—the city can still act to limit exposure at the community level. He stressed that repeated reminders and promotional cues from gambling operators can influence vulnerable individuals, reinforcing harmful behaviors.

The announcement comes as the Philippines intensifies its focus on responsible gaming. Discussions over a national online gambling ban have quieted in recent months after President Marcos did not include the proposal in this year’s policy address. However, at the regulatory level, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earlier ordered all licensed online gambling operators and service providers to remove out-of-home advertising by August 15th. The directive followed growing criticism from religious groups and lawmakers, who argued that widespread online gambling ads have increased addiction risks, particularly among vulnerable communities.

PAGCOR is also drafting stricter rules governing the placement and timing of gambling-related advertisements, in coordination with the Ad Standards Council, to ensure more consistent enforcement nationwide.

Pasig City has long maintained one of the strongest anti-gambling positions in the country. In 2022, it became the first Philippine city to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and electronic gambling shops under Ordinance 55 s-2022, which outlawed online casinos, e-games, e-bingo, online sabong, poker outlets, and related technical service providers. Sotto said the city’s earlier measures now align with national developments, noting that POGO operations have since been prohibited across the Philippines.