The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently issued a major new regulation: effective immediately, all national television media are prohibited from broadcasting any gambling-related advertisements during the "family prime time" from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM daily.
According to reports from several mainstream media outlets in the Philippines, this ban was officially announced by PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco. He stated that the core goal of the policy is to "protect minors from being influenced by gambling culture," especially during the time when children and family members gather and focus on watching TV, to prevent the subtle influence of gambling information on young people.
Tengco emphasized that prohibiting gambling advertisements during prime time is a response to strong public demand. "We need to set a red line to prevent gambling from infiltrating every family's daily life," he said.
The ban has quickly attracted widespread social attention. Many parents, teachers, and mental health experts have welcomed the move, believing that it will have a positive impact on the growth environment of young people and help reduce the likelihood of minors being exposed to gambling in the future. However, some gambling companies have expressed concerns about the limited advertising channels, believing that this may impact brand exposure and revenue.
In recent years, PAGCOR has continuously tightened its regulation of the gambling industry, gradually applying pressure through multiple aspects such as approvals, advertising, and technical reviews. This ban is considered an important signal of PAGCOR's deepening of online and offline regulatory policies and strengthening of its social responsibility orientation. Some analysts believe that this measure may become an important model for other Southeast Asian countries to refer to in their governance of gambling.
