In a pivotal move announced on August 21, 2025, the Philippine government's Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed that TikTok will stop running all Real Money Gambling (RMG) advertisements starting Friday, August 22.

This voluntary step follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive as part of the administration’s broader campaign to foster a safer digital environment.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda praised the move, calling it “significant for global platforms like TikTok,” particularly for its protective impact on young and vulnerable users.

Mounting Regulatory Pressure

TikTok’s latest action is part of a broader escalation in regulatory pressure across the Philippines:

• On August 18, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian demanded swift intervention against operators embedding gambling services into popular digital platforms such as Viber, Telegram, and Lazada.

• Around the same time, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued directives prompting e-wallet providers like GCash and Maya to sever connections with gambling platforms.

Together, these efforts represent a concerted government strategy to curb the ease with which users—especially minors—can access gambling through everyday digital services.

What Does This Mean for TikTok and Operators?

For gambling operators, TikTok has long been a valuable channel, offering:

• Access to a huge mobile-first audience, particularly among younger demographics.

• Strict compliance controls—ads had to come from licensed entities, be pre-approved in writing, and target users aged 25 or above, even setting a higher bar than the Philippines’ legal gambling age of 21.

With the ad pause effective August 22, these regulated, targeted campaigns are now suspended. Operators must pivot marketing strategies away from one of the Philippines’ most dynamic platforms.

A Turning Point in Digital Enforcement?

TikTok’s move fits into a global trend: platforms are being nudged—or pushed—toward playing gatekeeper roles in market-sensitive sectors.

• TikTok is one of several major tech platforms tightening oversight, especially in the Philippines where gambling content is drawing heightened scrutiny.

• The broader landscape sees platforms like Meta and Google implementing stricter, regionally tailored ad policies.

• The Philippines appears to be setting a benchmark for how digital platforms can be enlisted in national policy goals.