Key Moments:
- Digital Pinoys has launched a public reporting tool for illegal iGaming activities in the Philippines.
- All submitted reports undergo a two-level verification involving both Digital Pinoys and CICC before escalation to government agencies.
- The platform guarantees reporter anonymity, encouraging broader community participation and protection.
Reporting Tool Tackles Illegal Gambling
Digital Pinoys, a non-profit based in the Philippines, has rolled out a platform that enables individuals to flag unlawful online gambling sites, advertisements, and promoters. The initiative gives Filipinos a secure way to report a broad spectrum of unauthorized iGaming activity, as highlighted by Ronald Gustilo, National Campaigner of Digital Pinoys. The platform allows users to submit links and relevant details through a reporting form, which, while requesting a name and email for submission, ensures user anonymity at every step.
Illegal Online Gambling Update Report 🚨
Digital Pinoys has so far received 574 links to online gambling sites (including possible mirror sites) and identified 45 social media influencers promoting illegal gambling platforms. pic.twitter.com/E7v3whAqMG
— Digital Pinoys (@Digital_Pinoys) September 7, 2025
Verification Process and Government Involvement
Each report submitted through the system goes through a stringent two-step verification process. According to Gustilo, “First, our dedicated Digital Pinoys team cross-checks the submitted links and details against PAGCOR’s official list of licensed and accredited operators. Then, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) provides a second layer of verification to ensure accuracy and minimise the possibility of false or malicious reporting.”
Once a case is validated, CICC forwards the information to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). These government bodies then have the authority to direct telecom providers to block access to unauthorized iGaming sites and can compel the removal of illicit content promoted by influencers or across social channels.
Commitment to Anonymity
Gustilo emphasized the safeguards in place to protect those making reports: “We made anonymity a priority. Only a very limited number of authorised people have access to the reporting database. Even our volunteers only see the links or ads being reported, not the identity of the person who submitted them. This guarantees that citizens can safely report without fear of reprisal.”
These precautions aim to encourage greater participation from the community by eliminating concerns over possible reprisals from operators.
Objectives: Digital Wellbeing and Community Safety
The core aim of this initiative is not limited to blocking illegal domains but extends to protecting communities from their harmful influence. Gustilo stated, “This initiative is not just about blocking illegal gambling—it’s about building a safer digital environment. By empowering citizens to report and by ensuring that government agencies act on these reports, we aim to restore trust in the online space. In the long run, this protects vulnerable groups like the youth and senior citizens, who are often the targets of predatory gambling operators.”
He further added, “Illegal online gambling preys on the vulnerable and undermines public welfare. This platform is a way for ordinary Filipinos to join the fight and help protect our communities from its harms.”
Social Media as a Battleground for Gambling Ads
Despite prohibitive measures on payment channels, Digital Pinoys has observed that illegal gambling ads continue to circulate widely on major social media platforms. Gustilo identified these channels as a continuing source of problem, referencing a Business Times report which noted advertising still appears on Meta, YouTube, Google Ads, Rakuten Viber, and X. As restrictions grow tighter on e-wallets, analysts have observed that gambling operators are shifting their promotional budgets toward social networks.
The reporting platform is expected to play a role in guiding DICT requests for swift takedown of illicit online gambling promotions, with Gustilo stressing the critical need for government and social media companies to act in unison.
Public-Private Partnership for Safer Online Spaces
Digital Pinoys views this project as a demonstration of the effectiveness of collaboration between civil society and government agencies. “Through this collaboration between Digital Pinoys and government partners, we hope to show that digital empowerment and consumer protection go hand-in-hand,” Gustilo concluded.
| Process Step | Responsible Party |
|---|---|
| Initial Verification | Digital Pinoys team compares submissions with PAGCOR’s list |
| Secondary Verification | Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) |
| Escalation | Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) |
| Content Takedown/Blocking | DICT and NTC direct telecoms or platforms to remove or block illegal content |
- Author
Daniel Williams
