Cebu City may struggle to police online gambling ads
Cebu City faces challenges enforcing a ban on online gambling ads due to jurisdictional issues with platforms outside the city.Summary
Cebu City's Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) warned that enforcing a proposed ban on gambling advertisements online would be difficult because some digital platforms and operators are based outside the city's jurisdiction. During a City Council public hearing on August 11, 2026, BPLO Legal Officer Cherry Cutillar explained that while physical advertisements are easier to police, online promotions require coordination with agencies like the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Philippine National Police. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) urged the council to limit the ordinance to advertisements physically situated within Cebu City to avoid conflicting with national laws. The City Legal Office supported the measure's objective but recommended limiting the digital advertising prohibition to paid commercial ads disseminated by entities operating within the city or subject to its regulatory authority. The BPLO proposed a system for physical advertisements, including a transition period, joint inspections, and graduated administrative sanctions ranging from fines to permit revocation. The council also debated the scope of the ordinance, specifically whether bingo activities, including those for charitable purposes, would be covered by the prohibition.
(Source：SunStar Philippines)