Philippine Influencers Face Legal Action Over iGaming
In the Philippines, social media is facing legal consequences for promoting unlicensed iGaming operators.
Crackdown on Online Gambling Cybercrime
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) referred 30 influencers to the Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for promoting online casinos without a license from PAGCOR. This represents a shift from threat monitoring to formal enforcement, with active prosecution of violators.
List of Influencers
The influencers have follower counts ranging from 2.3 million to 10.2 million, giving them significant reach. Some of the identified names include:
- Christian Merck Grey
- Whamos Cruz
- Toni Fowler
- Normelyn Garcia
- Vic Desucatan
- Miss Ginbilog
- Cherry White
- Boy Tapang
- Nica Pauline Llamelo
- Clarence Angelo Santos
- Jeren Bacas
- Da Siblings
- Wampipty
- TG
- Ohmyveenus
- MotoDick
- Jungsuuk
- Perkz Gaming
Promotion Methods
According to the CICC, influencers promoted unlicensed gambling through:
- Livestreams
- Referral links
- Online challenges
Some of these campaigns targeted minors, increasing the severity of the violations.
Legal Framework and Potential Charges
Influencers may face charges under:
- Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175)
- Presidential Decree 1602 on illegal gambling
- Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code on estafa (fraud)
These laws hold both operators and individuals who knowingly promote illegal gambling accountable.
Government and Civic Collaboration
The referral to law enforcement followed verification by the Threat Monitoring Center (TMC) and cooperation with civic watchdog Digital Pinoys. Previous joint operations with PAGCOR, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the PNP have led to arrests, equipment seizures, and the shutdown of both domestic and offshore gambling networks.
Ongoing Monitoring
The TMC continues to track illegal gambling promotions on social media. Some influencer accounts have been removed voluntarily or by platform enforcement. Authorities emphasize that the process aims to turn online intelligence into prosecutable cases.
Table of Key Influencers
| Influencer | Followers |
|---|---|
| Christian Merck Grey | 2.3–10.2 million |
| Whamos Cruz | 2.3–9.2 million |
| Toni Fowler | 2.3–10.2 million |
| Normelyn Garcia | 2.3–10.2 million |
| Vic Desucatan | 2.3–10.2 million |
| Miss Ginbilog | 2.3–10.2 million |
Authorities continue to urge influencers to remove prohibited content and cooperate with investigations to avoid escalating legal consequences.