Discussions criticizing actress and content creator Ivana Alawi‘s iPhone 17 giveaway, which was linked to an online gambling platform, gained traction on social media.
The influencer announced July 15 that she would be giving away 100 iPhone 17 units, with the condition that participants follow the Casino Plus page to qualify.
“Gusto talaga nila na marami ang mabigyan kaya tumulong sila. All you have to do is follow their page, kasi doon tayo kukuha ng random followers na makakapag-uwi ng iPhone 17,” Ivana said in a now-deleted video posted on her Facebook.
She also included link to the gambling platform’s page in the comments section of her post.
“Follow our CP Fam!” the actress-vlogger wrote, accompanied by a green heart emoji.
Ivana’s post did not sit well with some Filipinos, who expressed concerns over her promotion of the gambling platform.
“Ivana Alawi, a lot of people — NAIVE — people look up to you. This is not out of hate pero nakakadismaya. 5 million worth of iPhones to give, just to be discarded as electronic waste after 20 years, and promoting GAMBLING affects not only the gamblers’ life, but also THEIR FAMILIES, for YEARS,” a Pinoy commented.
“Walang masama sa magbigay, but it should never come at the expense of the audience’s well-being through predatory sponsorships,” the Threads user added.
“Alam ko naman na maganda ‘yung intention ni Ivana Alawi na tumulong, pero para sa akin, mas nangingibabaw na ‘yung personal gain at ‘yung possible consequences ng mga ginagawa niya,” another Pinoy said.
“Binigyan ko pa siya ng benefit of the doubt dati, kahit may mga nagsasabing poverty porn ‘yung content niya. Pero this time, iba na kasi. Pagpo-promote ng sugal? Na-ah. Milyon-milyon ang nanonood sa kanya. Ilan kaya sa kanila ang mahihikayat magsugal dahil sa impluwensya niya?” the online user added.
“Tama lang na i-call out si Ivana at ang iba pang influencers na nagpo- promote ng sugal. Maraming pamilya at buhay ang sinira ng sugal na ‘yan. Pero huwag nating kalimutan kung paano naging normal at legal ang pagsusugal noon,” Facebook page “Voice of Millennials” said.
“Let’s not forget how Pia Cayetano made it legal, at kung paano pinagkakitaan ng Duterte administration ang POGO noon habang maraming buhay ang nasisira dahil sa sugal,” it added.
POGO refers to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, firms that operate in the Philippines and offer gambling services to markets outside the country. The industry has been linked to human trafficking, kidnapping, money laundering and online scams.
“This is not about taking Ivana Alawi’s side or criticizing her. Rather, it is about recognizing the influence that public figures have and the responsibility that comes with it,” another page commented.
“Ultimately, the broader issue extends beyond one personality. Influencers should stop normalizing online gambling, which has been linked to addiction, financial hardship, and family problems. We have seen many individuals publicly share how gambling addiction has affected their lives, serving as cautionary reminders of its dangers,” it added.
On gambling
Last May, a woman in Cebu City caused traffic after lying down in the middle of a highway in an apparent attempt to take her own life. It was later discovered that she had incurred a casino debt of P63,000.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it had received at least 1,890 complaints against illegal gambling sites since the start of the year.
The agency described the figure as “alarming.”
“Kaya muli akong nagpapabala — mag-ingat ho tayo sa online. Sa bawat scroll ninyo sa Facebook o TikTok, may influencers na pilit kayong hinihila papunta sa sugal,” CICC Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said.
In 2025, it was reported that the Philippines was experiencing a “boom” and “doom” in online gambling.
“Support groups for gambling addicts have surfaced on Facebook and Reddit in recent months. In one Filipino-language Facebook group reviewed by ST, users posted anonymous confessions about hidden debts, broken relationships and even suicide attempts,” a report by The Straits Times/Asia News Network said.
“One post came from a student who admitted stealing his mother’s credit card information just to keep placing bets,” it added.
The chairperson of a rehabilitation center that provides treatment for drug, alcohol, gambling and behavioral addictions said the facility has seen a rise in online gambling addiction cases compared with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.