The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has issued a public warning over the proliferation of illegal online gambling operations being livestreamed on social media platforms such as Facebook.
In a recent advisory, the state-run regulator emphasized that it does not authorize any gaming activity to be broadcast on social media. “The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) today warned the public against joining or patronizing gambling activities that are livestreamed in online platforms such as Facebook and other social media channels, saying they are likely illegal,” the statement read.
PAGCOR noted that these unauthorized platforms lack responsible gambling safeguards, do not protect consumers, and offer no guarantee of legitimate winnings. The agency urged the public to verify the licensing status of online gambling platforms via the official PAGCOR website.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) echoed the concerns, warning that many of these operations are scams. CICC Deputy Executive Director Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso described a common scam tactic: “Sometimes, players are asked to deposit funds to access the platform. The games are rigged — players are made to win initially, luring them into depositing larger amounts, only to be defrauded later.”
Authorities have also identified illegal websites that mimic government domains, including one that closely resembled the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) website. Paraiso described these as “lookalike domains” designed to deceive users by imitating the appearance and URLs of legitimate government sites, further undermining public trust in government institutions.
CICC said it is working closely with PAGCOR to shut down such platforms. “Three weeks ago, we had nine sites blocked. I currently have 150 more pending certification from PAGCOR before they can be taken down,” Paraiso noted.
However, enforcement remains difficult due to the offshore origins of many of these illegal operations, which are often based in countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
To strengthen its efforts, the CICC is seeking government support to deploy artificial intelligence tools capable of detecting illegal gambling content across social media platforms. “We’ve proposed this to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and, with help from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), are hoping it can be funded in the 2026 budget,” Paraiso said.
The CICC also warned local influencers and endorsers against promoting illegal gambling sites. “By next week, I will no longer issue appeals. I will begin sending out demand letters for possible criminal charges against these individuals or influencers,” said Paraiso. He added that the agency will also ask platforms to remove both the offending content and the channels promoting it.
On calls by some lawmakers to implement a total ban on online gambling, Paraiso said the agency will follow whatever policy direction is set by Congress.
