Baguio City councillors approved a proposed ordinance on second reading on 22 June that would block new online gambling permits and tighten controls on gambling promotion across the city.
Under the plan, no new permits or renewals would be granted to online gambling operators or related service providers. Existing businesses, including online casinos, e-games, online poker, e-bingo outlets, online sabong and POGOs, would have one year to wind down.
The measure would bar gambling ads in public spaces, including billboards, posters, LED screens, transit advertising and flyers. It would also prohibit gambling sponsorships for educational, sporting, cultural, religious and government events, and ban branding in schools, universities, parks, churches, sports facilities and other child-friendly areas.
People under 25 would be barred from entering gambling venues or joining games of chance, while schools, universities and student dormitories would be designated gambling-free zones. The proposal would also tighten barangay bingo, allowing only traditional games with physical cards and manually drawn numbers.
A Youth and Family Protection Against Gambling Council would oversee enforcement, public complaints and responsible gambling measures. Residents would be able to report illegal websites, apps and social media accounts through a digital platform, with complaints forwarded to PAGCOR, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.
Church leaders pressed for the ban in March, urging officials to curb gambling ads and review permits with the aim of phasing out existing operations. The Inquirer said the city’s hard-line antigambling stance dates back to the 1990 Luzon earthquake, and that Baguio blocked all casinos in 1991 and later sought to keep one out of Camp John Hay in 1994.
Violators could face fines of up to P5,000, up to one year in prison or both, along with permit revocation, closure orders and daily fines for continuing breaches. The ordinance still faces further legislative deliberations and refinements before final approval.
