The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is reportedly developing a new app that will help online gamblers tell licensed operators from illegal gaming platforms.
PAGCOR App Set to Strengthen Player Protection in the Philippines
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco told the House Committee on Appropriations during a budget hearing on August 24 that the regulator expects to launch the app before the end of 2026.
This tool is in the making as authorities continue to struggle to limit access to illegal online gambling services. Tengco said about half of the online gaming websites being accessed by people in the Philippines are operating without the required approval.
PAGCOR intends the application to provide players with an easy means of identifying legitimate operators and avoiding the risks posed by unregulated websites. The regulator also expects the move to help enforcement efforts by encouraging customers to stay in the licensed market.
Another big part of the application will be player protection. Tengco said players using licensed platforms would have a mechanism to resolve disputes if there were issues with an operator. This would provide players with a formal channel to seek assistance rather than be left to deal with unlicensed businesses that fall outside the regulatory framework of PAGCOR.
The new application will be based on the PAGCOR Guarantee, an online verification service that the regulator previously introduced. Consumers can check whether a gaming operator has a valid license on that platform.
AGCOR Targets Illegal Operators and Their Payment Channels
PAGCOR’s latest move is part of a wider crackdown on illegal online gaming in the Philippines. The regulator is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to monitor and go after unauthorized operators.
Authorities are also investigating the financial infrastructure behind illegal gaming. PAGCOR said that its coordination with other government agencies also covers payment channels that could be tapped by unregistered gambling firms.
Instead of a complete ban on online gaming, the regulator has increasingly focused on regulation. Tengco has argued before that a well-supervised market would provide better consumer protections and also contribute to the Philippine economy. He also warned that too strict policies could lead to players turning to illegal operators.
The legal online sector continues to be a substantial source of gaming revenue. Online gaming generated PHP39.85 billion ($650.8 million) in the latest quarter, underscoring the size of the market that PAGCOR is trying to bring under tighter regulatory control.