Illegal online gambling activities in the Philippines plunged by 93 percent in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the previous quarter, according to data from cybersecurity and analytics firms Gogolook and Whoscall.
Gogolook, a Taiwan-listed technology company, developed the Whoscall app, which offers caller identification and scam detection services.
The sharp decline, officials said, highlights the effectiveness of coordinated efforts among the government, law enforcement agencies, and private partners to curb cyber-enabled gambling operations.
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Acting Executive Director Aboy Paraiso attributed the steep drop to the combined actions of multiple stakeholders, including legislators and regulators. “Foreigners are now hesitant to invest in illegal online gambling because of the strict regulations in the country,” Paraiso said in an interview on a local television program.
Paraiso expressed appreciation for the collaboration of several agencies, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
According to Paraiso, Gogolook has been receiving significantly fewer reports and calls related to illicit gambling websites or scams. The CICC, he added, remains focused on maintaining its lead in combating similar cybercrimes. “We hope to sustain this momentum through continued coordination with other government agencies,” he said.
As part of its broader anti-cybercrime strategy, the CICC has entered into an agreement with Camp John Hay in Baguio City to establish a digital forensics training center. The new facility will serve as a hub for developing training modules and cultivating a new generation of analysts skilled in examining digital artifacts.
Paraiso said the center will train personnel from the PNP-ACG, the NBI Cybercrime Group, and possibly the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime. “We aim to enhance our collective capacity to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes more effectively,” he noted.
The CICC reiterated that continued collaboration and technical capacity-building are essential to sustaining the country’s gains in suppressing illegal online gambling and related cyber offenses.
