The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) says that its National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP) is not a list of gambling addicts but rather a compilation of individuals prohibited from entering gambling establishments, primarily government officials restricted by law.
On Tuesday, PAGCOR issued the clarification, following social media posts claiming hackers had accessed the NDRP and incorrectly describing it as a database of gambling addicts. The gaming regulator emphasized that the hacked list did not originate from PAGCOR’s website but was likely obtained from one of its gaming licensees who have legitimate access to screen restricted persons.
“The names on the list are not necessarily addicted gamblers; most are government officials who, by law, are not allowed to enter gambling establishments, thus their inclusion in the NDRP,” said Vina Claudette Oca, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for the Gaming Licensing and Development Department.
The GLDD, which maintains the database, explained that the NDRP currently contains over 560,000 names, mainly elected officials sourced from the Department of the Interior and Local Government website. However, Oca noted the database remains incomplete given millions of government workers nationwide require inclusion.
The NDRP also contains 1,711 banned persons who have requested self-exclusion, family exclusion, or exclusions initiated by PAGCOR licensees, though these individuals are not necessarily addicts or government officials.
PAGCOR created the database to help casinos screen patrons and prevent prohibited persons from gambling in authorized establishments. The GLDD continues updating the database with input from various government agencies to ensure comprehensive coverage of restricted individuals.
