Philippine government urged to ban online gambling ads amid addiction fears

A former anti-corruption official has called on the Philippine government to impose a nationwide ban on online gambling advertisements, warning that aggressive digital marketing is fueling addiction and harming vulnerable communities.

Nicasio Conti, former commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, said the glamorization of gambling through online ads has normalized destructive behavior, especially among financially at-risk individuals. Conti now heads Capstone Intel Corporation, a private intelligence agency.

“It’s time we draw the line. We cannot allow profit to come at the cost of broken homes and lost futures,” Conti said in a statement reported by Manila Bulletin.

Describing online gambling as a “silent epidemic,” Conti argued that platforms are operating under the guise of entertainment, while being accessible 24/7 and targeting susceptible users. “The glamorization of gambling through aggressive ads is normalizing addiction and destroying lives quietly,” he added.

Conti also raised concerns about the widespread use of e-wallets and online banks to fund gambling activities, which he said has blurred the lines between legal and harmful transactions. “Gambling can no longer be treated as a private vice - it is a public issue with far-reaching consequences on mental health, poverty, and corruption,” he said.

He urged lawmakers to pursue a multi-agency response, including regulatory reform and advertising restrictions that align with global standards. Several jurisdictions, including some in Europe and Australia, have already limited or banned gambling-related advertising to mitigate societal harm.

Conti’s comments come as the Philippine government intensifies its crackdown on unregulated gambling websites. More than 7,000 illegal platforms have reportedly been taken offline, though many continue to operate by switching domains.

Conti highlighted that existing laws must be updated to reflect the “realities of the digital age,” and called for safeguards against what he termed “debt, digital manipulation, and unchecked advertising.”