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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Raffy Tulfo urges influencers to stop cashing in on gambling ads

Raffy Tulfo urges influencers to stop cashing in on gambling ads

Published Jul 17, 2025 10:49 am

At A Glance

  • While some of them may view these promotions as a simple income stream, the senator warned that such endorsements undoubtedly fuel gambling addiction, even among their own followers or loved ones.
Senator Raffy Tulfo speaks during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on July 15, 2025. He called for a total ban on online gambling, stressing that it leads to addiction, financial troubles, and serious issues within Filipino families. Tulfo urged the government to take immediate action to protect the public from its negative impact. (Mark Balmores)
Senator Raffy Tulfo speaks during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on July 15, 2025. He called for a total ban on online gambling, stressing that it leads to addiction, financial troubles, and serious issues within Filipino families. Tulfo urged the government to take immediate action to protect the public from its negative impact. (Mark Balmores)

Senator Raffy Tulfo has urged celebrities and social media influencers to stop promoting online gambling platforms for the benefit of the society and reflect on the social consequences of their endorsements.

Tulfo said these celebrity endorsers and influencers should now think twice before cashing in on the popularity of online gambling platforms as the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal betting operations.

While some of them may view these promotions as a simple income stream, the senator warned that such endorsements undoubtedly fuel gambling addiction, even among their own followers or loved ones.

“Maybe it's just work for them, nothing personal. But what they don't know is that many people are ruined because of this,” Tulfo said during a recent press briefing. 

“Who knows? Maybe their relatives, their loved ones are addicted to gambling that they endorse on social media, TV, or radio,” he pointed out.

The senator issued the warning following the latest directive from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which has warned influencers against promoting unlicensed online gambling platforms.

He further reminded these endorsers that responsibility comes with influence, pointing out that public figures can either uplift or endanger their communities with the content they put out.

“They should think about the impact on their followers. Maybe in the end, instead of being happy, they will leave them and stop following them. Maybe they will even say, ‘Because of you, I went bankrupt. My life is ruined,” he pointed out.

According to the CICC, approximately 80 percent of top-tier content creators have already taken down gambling-related posts, but the remaining 20 percent have yet to comply. 

To ensure compliance, the CICC said it is coordinating with major social media platforms to remove the accounts of persistent violators.

The cybercrime arm of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)  said it is also investigating 13 high-profile influencers with a combined audience of over 46 million followers. 

According to them, these individuals are reportedly earning 50 to 60 percent of the revenues generated by the gambling sites they promote. However, many of them operate without proper licenses or safety protocols.

Related Tags

ONLINE GAMBLING gambling addiction Raffy Tulfo
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