Meta removes 20 pages promoting illegal gambling in Philippines
Meta has removed the Facebook pages of 20 online influencers promoting unlicensed online gambling, following a joint request by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and advocacy group Digital Pinoys.
In a Facebook post, Digital Pinoys stated that the initial list submitted to Meta included the names of social media personalities with follower counts ranging from hundreds of thousands to nearly ten million. Among those affected were Boy Tapang (5.5 million followers), Sachzna Laparan (9.7 million), Kuya Lex TV (100,000 followers), and actor Mark Anthony Fernandez (242,000 followers). The action comes amid growing scrutiny of online gambling content on social media in the Philippines, with authorities warning influencers and content creators about their role in driving users to unlicensed platforms.
CICC stated that influencers who had ignored earlier notices to remove gambling promotions had been issued show-cause orders, compelling them to justify their actions and avoid potential criminal charges.
Warnings ignored as authorities escalate action
According to a Philippine Star report, the CICC had earlier given influencers until 11 July to take down content promoting illegal gambling. According to Digital Pinoys, many dismissed the deadline and continued posting, assuming there would be no enforcement.
Meta’s takedown of the initial 20 pages marks the beginning of what Digital Pinoys described as an ongoing process. The group urged the platform to act on the remaining flagged pages in the coming days.
“This is only the initial list of influencers promoting illegal online gambling that Digital Pinoys has endorsed to CICC for page takedown. Review and verification of influencers to determine whether the platforms they promote are properly licensed is continuously being undertaken,” Digital Pinoys said in the comment section of its post.
“If you come across anyone endorsing illegal online gambling, you may report them to us,” the group urged.
The CICC also reiterated its warning that those found violating laws against illegal gambling promotion would face legal consequences. The agency stated that social media personalities must be held accountable, particularly when they use their influence to encourage unlawful or harmful activities.
PAGCOR orders end to outdoor gambling ads
In a related move, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has ordered operators to remove gambling-related advertisements from public transportation and billboards by 15 August.
The directive covers promotional materials on public transportation such as buses, jeepneys, taxis, and trains, in response to concerns over the visibility of gambling ads in public spaces. PAGCOR’s campaign comes amid broader efforts to tighten oversight of gambling advertising, particularly those not covered by existing licensing rules.
Several bills have been introduced in the Philippine Congress seeking to regulate further — or even ban — online gambling. PAGCOR and some licensed operators have expressed opposition to a total ban, instead pushing for stricter regulatory mechanisms.
Senator renews call for online gambling ban
Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the removal of the Facebook pages, calling it an essential development in his push for stronger measures against online gambling. Villanueva is the author of the proposed Anti-Online Gambling Act. First filed as Senate Bill No. 1281 in the 19th Congress, it has been refiled in the 20th Congress as Senate Bill No. 47.
He said the takedown of influencer pages showed momentum for the campaign, which he described as a growing effort to curb an activity that exacerbates poverty and disrupts families. Villanueva also urged entertainment agencies and brands to include clauses in influencer contracts that prohibit the promotion of gambling content.
Speaking at a recent public forum, the senator warned that online gambling posed a broader risk than other controversial gaming industries, likening it to a quicksand slowly burying society.
