Influencers, content creators told to stop pushing illegal online gambling

MANILA (UPDATE) — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it is giving influencers and content creators until Friday, July 11, to stop promoting illegal online gambling.

The warning comes amid an order from gambling regulator Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for licensed online gambling platforms to take down billboards advertising their games.

In a press conference on Friday, CICC Deputy Executive Director Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso said they will start sending notices to explain to those who will not comply by Monday, July 14. 

“To follow due process naman po, we would, bago natin kasuhan, we would inform them and ask them to explain why CICC should not pursue cases against them,” Paraiso explained. 

“Ang una kong iniisip is padalan nila sa mga email nila na naka-register sa mga channels nila.  Pero may nag-suggest sa akin, kailangan daw yata puntahan sa mga bahay-bahay nila at i-serve diretso sa kanila. So we'll try to find a way to execute on that,” Paraiso explained. 

CICC said they have monitored and documented which social media influencers have been endorsing illegal online gambling, which is why they will be able to determine who will not follow.

The agency plans to go after the 20 biggest influencers first. 

“Kapag siguro naman ho sineryoso ko yung benteng malalaking yan, magkakaroon na ng takot yung iba at seseryosohin na rin ang kampanya ng CICC at nating lahat laban sa illegal online gambling,” Paraiso stated.

CICC has spoken with social media platforms which said they are willing to take down accounts that promote illegal online gambling. This is why Paraiso said users should not be surprised if their accounts are taken down even before receiving a notice from CICC.

CYBERCRIME 

The non-government organization Digital Pinoys joined the call for influencers to stop endorsing illegal online gambling, citing crimes that are associated with unauthorized games. 

“Yung mga online gambling linked siya doon sa mga unauthorized transactions sa mga e-wallet providers. Linked siya doon sa mga phishing incidents na kung saan yung mga personal information nung mga tao ay nakuha. Yan yung usual na cases na namonitor natin doon sa mga complainant natin,” Ronald Gustilo, National Campaigner of Digital Pinoys, said. 

“At the same time yung hindi na nila ma-cash out yung mga napanalunan nila. After nila manalo, ni-restrict yung access nila doon sa platform so hindi na nila makuha yung winnings nila,” Gustilo added. 

CICC said estafa is committed when the winnings are not given to the players. 

“One other danger of engaging with illegal online gambling platforms is that we don’t know what they’re doing with our personal information,” CICC Director Rojun Hosillos said. “So these things make their acts criminal.” 

Paraiso has talked with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III, whom he described as supportive in addressing illegal online gambling. Some of the collaborations that could be done include capacity building, training, and providing equipment. 

“From PNP ho mag-dedesignate ng mga manpower para mas mapabilis ho yung investigation natin, yung paghuli natin. Hindi yung kami mag-refer pa sa kanila tapos magpa-follow up, follow up,” Paraiso said. 

Gustilo hopes the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) can check on the income declarations of influencers. 

Paraiso said victims can reach out to CICC via their hotline 136 or their official social media accounts. 

The move also comes as lawmakers file bills seeking to regulate or ban online gambling.

PAGCOR chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco said problems arising from online gambling are caused by illegal sites — not the ones licensed by the state gaming regulator.