PAGCOR urged: Crack whip vs influencers advertising online gambling

Online platforms and social media influencers must be held accountable for failing to follow advertising guidelines set by gaming regulators and industry watchdog groups, a lawmaker said Monday.

Kamanggagawa Partylist Representative Eli San Fernando raised concerns during a congressional budget hearing over the role public figures play in driving gambling addiction among ordinary citizens, noting that many promotional posts omit required warning disclaimers.

San Fernando warned that pervasive online gambling has forced minimum-wage earners to pawn valuables to settle debts, pointing out that endorsements by high-profile celebrities lead struggling workers to believe gambling offers a viable way to support their families.

He urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to ensure equal legal liability for content creators and parent companies that generate social harm by enticing the public to gamble.

PAGCOR chairperson and CEO Alejandro Tengco responded that the agency has begun penalizing operators that breach responsible advertising standards.

Tengco cited an instance involving social media personality Ivana Alawi giving away smartphones in exchange for following a gambling site, which resulted in a P1-million fine for the company and a warning of potential license cancellation for repeated offenses.

He also said that illegal online gambling remains a critical issue, explaining that about half of the gambling sites active in the country operate illegally from overseas, beyond PAGCOR’s direct jurisdiction.