Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR has issued an order for online gaming operators to immediately remove outdoor billboards and other gambling-related out-of-home (OOH) advertisements.
The order, issued on 7 July according to a PAGCOR announcement, covers “all licensees, suppliers and electronic gaming administrators and providers” with the deadline for removal stated to be 15 August. IAG understands industry representatives agreed to the change during a meeting with PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco held on the day the order was issued.
The move follows the filing of a bill by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian last Friday 4 July calling for significantly tighter restrictions around the promotion of and access to domestic online gaming platforms. The proposed bill specifically addresses the proliferation of online gambling advertising.
Thursday’s order was signed by the head of PAGCOR’s electronic gaming licensing department Jeremy Luglug and the AVP of the Gaming Licensing and Development Department Vina Oca. The Inquirer reported that PAGCOR is also preparing to implement a set of guidelines for posting OOH advertisements, to be enforced with the help of the Ads Standards Council (ASC). The guidelines will include a ban on such ads near churches, schools and hospitals, and on prime-time television.
In a statement, Tengco said, “We have given all our licensees and stakeholders until August 15 to completely remove all gambling-related ads. Prior to that, stakeholders must also submit an inventory of their existing billboard and wallscape advertisements by July 16.”
The PAGCOR chief added that the move is part of the state gaming agency’s commitment to promote a safer and more responsible gaming environment in the country. “While PAGCOR is mandated to regulate the gaming industry and generate revenues for nation-building, we do not want to encourage a culture of gambling addiction,” he said.
“Regulating excessive and pervasive gambling advertisements is a critical step in protecting vulnerable sectors of society, especially the youth.”
Tengco had previously welcomed restrictions on gambling advertising as a common sense approach to regulating the rising eGames industry but said he did not agree with calls by some to ban online gaming altogether.
In a radio interview conducted on Tuesday, Tengco said, “PAGCOR’s current stand is not a total ban, but stricter regulation”.
“The current government is earning PHP100 billion directly and indirectly. Let’s not ignore it. The truth is, one of the largest online gaming companies licensed by PAGCOR, what was reported to me is that over Php30 billion or Php40 billion were paid in taxes.
“Secondly, there are also ancillary businesses; there are security guards, drivers, messengers, restaurants where these people eat, various transportation companies used by those involved in the online gaming industry. So that’s the indirect one.
“So, the impact of this is hundreds of billions in revenue for our country that could potentially be lost if the total ban is enacted.
“That’s why I said we have a senator, Senator Gatchalian, who is for stricter regulation. That way, the industry can continue to be regulated, and at the same time, the government also makes money.”
