A group of social media gambling influencers have been banned for promoting online gambling after failing to take regulation seriously, as Meta removed 20 pages in the Philippines. 

A digital advocacy group, Digital Pinoys, partnered with Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to process the removal of 20 so-called influencers who are promoting gambling.

This represented a strong move in the country’s ongoing battle with the industry as the two companies combined to ensure the removal of the aforementioned Facebook pages run by influencers who were promoting online gambling to their large audiences.

After submitting a proposal of 20 pages to be taken down, the first batch of names for review included social media personalities ranging from 100,000 followers to millions.

A few examples include Boy Tapang (5.5 million followers), Sachzna Laparan (9.7 million followers), Kuya Lex TV (100,000 followers) and Mark Anthony Fernandez (242,000 followers).

Digital Pinnoys have since remarked on the result and swift action from Meta, as they continue to push for stopping the spread of unregulated, illegal online gambling – and their national campaigner Ronald Gustilo expressed his gratitude.

He commented, saying: “We thank Meta for swiftly acting on our joint request with CICC 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.” 

On July 11, he revealed that multiple social media figures were contacted about the removal of their accounts, but such contact was merely rejected as a bluff before the oversight officially came in leaving them to face the consequences. 

“Some of these influencers thought they were untouchable — that we were bluffing,” Gustilo said. “They had more than enough time to comply. They gambled with the law, and now they’re facing the consequences.”

Our previous coverage of the Philippines has shown a steady increase in the push for stronger regulation on gambling, with The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) even removing gambling billboards earlier in July. 

Other examples have seen government officials speak out, the church and other figures in the industry and the removal of such influencer accounts will be seen as a step in the right direction in their wider fight against gambling.