Celebrities and influencers, whether directly or indirectly endorsing online gambling, are aggravating the deepening crisis of widespread gambling, said a lawmaker.
“We see celebrities, influencers, and even beauty queens endorsing apps like BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, OKBet … enticing millions of Filipinos with promises of instant riches,” Cagayan De Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said in his privilege speech.
“As of this year, over 15 top Filipino celebrities are directly or indirectly promoting gambling platforms, from Ivana Alawi to Vice Ganda to Alden Richards. These endorsements are often packaged as lifestyle content, making gambling appear harmless and aspirational,” he explained.
However, Rodriguez called online gambling in the Philippines an insidious “silent epidemic.” He said celebrity endorsements, along with the ease of transactions via e-wallets like GCash and PayMaya, encourage young fans to gamble.
“But behind the flashy promotions lie broken homes, exhausted savings, and shattered futures,” he stated.
As examples, he recalled news stories of a jeepney driver losing his earnings for an entire working day through an online slot game; a gambling addict taking his life three weeks ago; and a husband who brutally attacked his wife, who insisted he stop playing Scatter.
“This is not fiction. These are reported on online, radio, TV, and are a chilling reminder that gambling is not a private vice—it has public consequences,” Rodriguez declared.
The lawmaker proposed banning all sorts of online gambling and prohibiting the use of GCash, PayMaya, and ShoppeePay for such transactions.
The Akbayan Partylist is set to file a bill seeking to regulate online gambling, it said on July 3.
