Around half of the online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which plans to launch an application by the end of the year to direct players toward licensed platforms.
PAGCOR disclosed the plan in a press release issued Tuesday, citing remarks by Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco during the regulator’s budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Monday.
“Around 50 percent of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, and keeping players within the regulated sector has been an ongoing challenge for PAGCOR and our law enforcement partners,” Tengco said.
The application is intended to make it easier for players to identify and access authorized gaming sites that comply with PAGCOR’s regulatory requirements and player safeguards.
“The PAGCOR app has two main objectives: First, to curb illegal online gambling and second, to protect players by ensuring that they play only on platforms licensed and regulated by PAGCOR.”
Alejandro H. Tengco
He added that customers of licensed operators have access to a formal dispute-resolution process when problems arise.
The regulator did not provide details about the app’s functions or indicate whether it would have the ability to block access to unauthorized platforms.
The initiative expands on the PAGCOR Guarantee website launched in June 2025. The verification service maintains an updated list of licensed internet gaming platforms and allows users to access authorized sites directly.
PAGCOR is also working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to pursue illegal online gaming operators and the payment channels they use.
