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Philippines targets influencers promoting illegal gambling
The Philippines’ gaming regulator (PAGCOR) is targeting a group of social media influencers who are accused of promoting illegal online gambling platforms.
The country’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Centre (CICC) stated that 10 influencers are suspected of the activity, including names such as Perkz Gaming, Jam Mango, Vic Desucatan, and Wampipti.
The investigation is being carried out in collaboration with Digital Pinoys, which is a government-regulated digital advocacy group. Before this case, the CICC’s Chief Undersecretary, Renato Paraiso, warned that influencers could be charged with breaching the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Presidential Decree No. 1602, and Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
If the influencers are found guilty, they could get fined and imprisoned, as the CICC has been targeting the Philippines’ black market in partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).
During October 2025, CICC and Digital Pinoys revealed that more than 1600 illegal gambling websites were found, and because of this, iGaming has since been constantly under supervision.
PAGCOR’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Alejandro Tengco, added:
“Radio and TV stations are asking if they can still show the ads during dead slots, mainly for advertising revenue. But for us, if it’s possible to completely ban them, that’s what we want to enforce.”
£639,125 has also been allocated to PAGCOR in order to fight against the black market.
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