The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced on Wednesday that it will be enforcing stricter regulations regarding online gambling, particularly in terms of know-your-customer (KYC) protocols, advertising restrictions, and promoting responsible gaming measures.
According to the Philippine News Agency, this initiative comes as the Senate examines the social and financial implications of online gambling in the country.
During a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing, PAGCOR chairperson Alejandro H. Tengco informed lawmakers that gambling advertisements are already prohibited during peak television and radio hours.
Additionally, discussions are underway to consider extending this ban throughout the day. Tengco remarked, “During prime time, advertisements are already prohibited”, highlighting ongoing consultations with industry stakeholders.
Jessa Mariz Fernandez, the officer in charge of PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department, stated that measures have been implemented to close loopholes that previously allowed players to access gambling platforms before completing identity verification.
“We are now tightening the rules so that even before they can deposit, they must already submit their initial KYC requirements.”
Jessa Mariz Fernandez
The revised KYC process mandates that registrants provide their name, contact information, a valid government-issued ID, and a real-time selfie with the ID. This change is aimed at reducing instances of borrowed or fake identities, a concern frequently raised in prior Senate hearings.
On the advertising front, PAGCOR is collaborating with the Ads Standards Council to finalize regulations for gambling promotions on social media and other digital platforms. Illegal advertisements are also being monitored and reported to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Telecommunications Commission for action.
Other measures involve the introduction of online self-exclusion tools on gaming platforms, accrediting treatment and rehabilitation centers for problem gamblers, and removing gambling-related billboards and outdoor ads.
