PHOTO BY PASIG CITY MAYOR VICO SOTTO/ FACEBOOK
Pasig City on Monday approved a sweeping ordinance outlawing all forms of gambling advertising across public spaces within the city.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto announced the passage of Ordinance No. 26-2025, which prohibits promotions, billboards, signages, and sponsorships linked to gambling firms.
The measure bars ads on public transport, buildings, printed materials, and digital or street-level media within the city limits.
City officials said gambling promotions will only be allowed inside licensed casinos and authorized betting halls.
Sotto said the ban reinforces Pasig’s earlier move to prohibit POGOs and e-gaming shops, a policy the city implemented ahead of the national ban.
He recalled attempts to pressure the city council to withdraw the 2022 ordinance, including alleged offers of money to two councilors.
The mayor said the new advertising ban is limited by local government powers but remains a significant step in reducing gambling visibility in Pasig.
Sotto cited personal accounts of residents harmed by active-play gambling, saying ads often trigger relapse among individuals trying to quit.
He stressed that gambling psychology is a well-studied field and expressed confidence that the measure would withstand scrutiny.
The mayor added that Pasig remains committed to protecting vulnerable sectors from the harms of gambling.