Meta has taken down 20 Facebook pages operated by Filipino influencers accused of promoting unlicensed online gambling, following a joint request from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and advocacy group Digital Pinoys.
Government Cracks Down After Warnings Ignored
The CICC confirmed that it issued show-cause orders to several influencers who failed to comply with earlier takedown notices. These orders demand justification for their promotional activities, with non-compliance potentially leading to criminal charges.
According to the Philippine Star, influencers were given until July 11 to remove gambling-related content. Digital Pinoys noted that many ignored the deadline, assuming they would not face consequences.
Meta’s removal of 20 pages is seen as the first wave of enforcement. “This is an ongoing process,” Digital Pinoys said, urging Meta to continue removing flagged pages. “We are still verifying whether the platforms promoted by these influencers are operating under legal licenses.”
The organization also appealed to the public: “If you find anyone promoting illegal online gambling, please report them to us.”
PAGCOR Bans Outdoor Gambling Ads
Separately, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has ordered all gambling operators to remove advertising from public transportation and outdoor billboards by August 15. This includes buses, jeepneys, taxis, trains, and other public vehicles.
The move responds to mounting concerns about the visibility of gambling advertisements in public spaces and forms part of broader efforts to regulate gambling-related promotions—particularly those outside PAGCOR’s licensed ecosystem.
Several bills have been introduced in Congress seeking to tighten or ban online gambling altogether. PAGCOR and some licensed operators have opposed a blanket ban, advocating instead for stronger, more targeted regulatory oversight.
Senator Villanueva Renews Call for Gambling Ban
Senator Joel Villanueva, sponsor of the Anti-Online Gambling Bill, welcomed Meta’s action as a “major step forward” in the push for tougher online gambling controls. Originally filed as Senate Bill No. 1281 during the 19th Congress and refiled as Senate Bill No. 47, the proposed legislation seeks to ban online gambling nationwide.
Villanueva described the removals as evidence that momentum is building to combat an industry he says exacerbates poverty and destroys families. He also called on entertainment companies and brands to include gambling promotion clauses in influencer contracts.
Speaking at a recent public forum, the senator described online gambling as “quicksand consuming society”, and argued it poses more severe risks than other controversial gambling formats.
