Pagcor to stop gambling ads on primetime TV

MANILA, Philippines — Apart from billboards, gambling-related advertisements will now be prohibited during primetime television hours, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said yesterday.

PAGCOR chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco said gambling ads will not be shown on television from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., based on their dialogue with the Ad Standards Council of the Philippines (ASCP).

“At these times families are together after office work, having dinner and sharing stories,” Tengco said in Filipino over dzMM Teleradyo.

He said the move is logical, as it is during those hours when families are usually together, and it would protect minors from seeing gambling advertisements on television.

Tengco earlier ordered the removal of gambling ads not only on billboards and other fixed structures, but also on trains, buses, jeepneys and taxicabs. Ads for online gaming on billboards near schools and places of worship will also be banned.

He said PAGCOR and the ASCP are set to sign an agreement on July 16 for the regulation of gambling ads.

Tengco said the stand of the state-run gaming regulator is still the same, and that is for stricter regulations, instead of a total ban, on online gambling.

“We respect the stand of our lawmakers. That’s their right and duty. On the part of PAGCOR, we are not for a total online gaming ban, but we are for strict regulation,” he said.

Tengco said the problem are the illegal operators, who are usually from other countries and are targeting Filipinos in their games.

He said accredited online gambling sites are strict when it comes to accepting players, allowing only those 21 years old and above joining their games.