Cebu City Approves Comprehensive Ban on Gambling Ads

Cebu City has moved to significantly restrict gambling visibility after its City Council approved a comprehensive prohibition on gambling-related advertising across the locality. The ordinance, adopted during a midweek council session, effectively eliminates promotional exposure for gambling operators throughout the city.

As reported by The Manila Times, the ban applies broadly, covering both traditional and digital formats. This includes outdoor billboards, posters, LED displays and online advertising placements, marking one of the most far-reaching local crackdowns on gambling promotion in the Philippines to date.

Tackling the Social Impact of Gambling Promotion

City officials backing the measure argue that the constant presence of gambling advertisements contributes to the normalisation of betting, particularly among younger audiences and other vulnerable groups. Council members cited concerns that aggressive promotion can fuel problem gambling, household debt and broader social harm.

According to proponents of the ban, the rapid expansion of online gambling amplified by digital marketing and event sponsorships has made gambling increasingly visible in everyday life. The new policy is intended to reverse that trend by reducing exposure rather than targeting gambling activity itself.

Coordinated Enforcement Across City Agencies

Given the scale of the restriction, enforcement will involve multiple municipal departments. The Cebu City Police Office, City Legal Office, and Business Permit and Licensing Office have all been tasked with monitoring compliance, both in public spaces and among licensed businesses operating within the city.

Authorities will be responsible for identifying prohibited advertisements, ensuring their removal and overseeing compliance by commercial establishments, signalling a more hands-on regulatory approach at the local level.

Part of a Broader Regulatory Shift

Cebu City’s decision aligns with a growing pattern of local government intervention in gambling-related regulation across the Philippines. Earlier in 2025, the city approved measures restricting access to online gambling platforms through government VPN networks. Other cities, including Pasig, have introduced similar controls aimed at limiting exposure to gambling services.

These initiatives reflect a wider reassessment of how gambling is marketed, particularly as online platforms continue to expand rapidly despite tighter national oversight.

A Tougher Environment for Gambling Promotion

While the ordinance does not prohibit gambling operations outright, it draws a clear line on promotion, sponsorships and advertising. City leaders appear to have concluded that the potential social costs of widespread gambling marketing outweigh any economic benefits derived from advertising revenue.

As more local authorities adopt comparable measures, gambling operators in the Philippines may face an increasingly restrictive promotional landscape, where visibility rather than legality becomes the primary regulatory battleground.