Coordinated Enforcement Action
The social media giant acted on a request from the Philippine Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and Digital Pinoys, a Filipino digital advocacy network.
The removed pages belonged to high-profile influencers including Sachzna Laparan (9.7 million followers), Boy Tapang (5.5 million followers), and actor Mark Anthony Fernandez (242,000 followers).
“We thank Meta for swiftly acting on our joint request to take down the pages of influencers blatantly promoting illegal online gambling.We hope the remaining pages flagged in our initial report will be removed in the coming days.”
The enforcement action represents a significant escalation in Philippine efforts to combat illegal iGaming promotion on social media platforms.
Legislative Push for Complete Ban
Senator Joel Villanueva, who authored Senate Bill No 47 (the Anti-Online Gambling Act), welcomed Meta’s action as “a significant step forward in our campaign to push for a total ban” on iGaming operations in the Philippines.
Gustilo noted the deterrent effect of the enforcement:
“Some of these influencers thought they were untouchable, that we were bluffing. They gambled with the law and now they’re facing the consequences.”
Religious Opposition Intensifies
The Catholic Church has amplified its calls for a complete online gambling prohibition. Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, questioned the silence from government, media, and business sectors regarding iGaming’s social impact.
“Why do many in the government, the media and business world seem to be silent? They choose to stay silent because of the considerable profits that this industry generates,”
David stated in a letter cited by the Manila Standard. He expressed concern about families and communities remaining silent about gambling addiction issues.
Market Scale and Illegal Operations
The Philippines’ legal iGaming sector generated PHP154.51 billion ($2.7 billion) in gross gaming revenues during 2024, representing a 165% year-over-year increase. However, illegal operations continue to proliferate alongside the regulated market.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp reported blocking 5,793 illegal iGaming websites and applications in July 2024. That same month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations citing concerns over money laundering, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Industry Implications
The coordinated action between Philippine authorities and Meta signals a new phase in digital enforcement against illegal iGaming promotion. The removal of high-follower influencer accounts demonstrates that social media platforms are willing to act decisively when presented with evidence of illegal gambling promotion.
For the broader iGaming industry, the developments highlight the ongoing tension between market growth and regulatory oversight in Southeast Asian markets. The preference for regulation over prohibition expressed in recent polling suggests potential pathways for balancing legitimate industry operations with consumer protection concerns.
The enforcement action also underscores the importance of compliance with local gambling laws for both operators and affiliates operating in or targeting Philippine markets.
