Crackdown on online gambling ads urged

A former official of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission has called for a nationwide ban on online gambling advertisements amid growing public concern over the impact of digital gambling platforms on families, youth, and vulnerable sectors.

Atty. Nick Conti, CEO of Capstone Intel Corp. and former Anti-Graft Commissioner, said his call comes as the government intensifies its efforts to shut down thousands of illegal online gambling websites operating in the country.

Recent reports from Malacañang Palace said that over 7,000 illegal sites have already been identified and taken offline, with efforts continuing despite operators constantly changing domains to evade detection.

“Online gambling is a silent epidemic,” Conti said. “It is available 24/7, targets the most financially at-risk, and is being disguised as entertainment. The glamorization of gambling through aggressive ads is normalizing addiction and destroying lives quietly.”

The lawyer expressed alarm over the widespread use of e-wallets, online banks, and digital platforms to fund gambling transactions, further blurring the line between legitimate financial activity and harmful behavior. He warned that without immediate safeguards, online gambling could fuel debt, mental health problems, and even financial crimes such as money laundering.

As an expert in cyber intelligence and governance, Conti underscored the need for a multi-agency approach to protect the public from what he calls a “systemic and evolving threat.”

“Our laws must evolve to meet the realities of the digital age,” Conti said. “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 urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the House of Representatives to work together to establish safeguards similar to those adopted in other developed nations where online gambling is tightly regulated or severely limited.

“The Filipino family is under siege—from debt, digital manipulation, and unchecked advertising. It's time we drew the line. We cannot allow profit to come at the cost of broken homes and lost futures,” Conti concluded.