The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has set December 2026 as the potential rollout date for a previously announced mobile app that will let players verify whether online gaming sites are licensed.
According to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, the app will help players tell legitimate operators apart from unauthorized ones, and it forms part of the regulator’s measures to protect the public from illegal online gambling.
“This platform will give players a reliable way to verify which online gaming platforms are licensed by PAGCOR. We want the public to make informed choices and avoid falling prey to illegal operators,” Tengco said.
No-cost arrangement with DCI
On October 8, the PAGCOR Board of Directors approved the development and implementation of the app. The board also approved a proposed partnership with Development Bank of the Philippines Data Center, Inc. (DCI), which will develop, operate, and maintain the platform, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
Under the arrangement, DCI will take charge of the app’s development, hosting, operation, maintenance, and technical support, and PAGCOR will not shoulder any of the costs.
A six-month test comes before full rollout
DCI must first submit a proof of concept for the app’s minimum viable product, which PAGCOR will evaluate before it accepts the platform for full-scale implementation. The six-month assessment will look at the proposed features, system architecture, security controls, and overall feasibility of the platform.
If DCI does not correct deficiencies found during the evaluation period within a reasonable time, PAGCOR may terminate the arrangement.
Data privacy rules apply to the five-year deal
The partnership must comply with applicable data privacy, cybersecurity, and information security laws, among them the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The parties will incorporate data-sharing and information security provisions into the terms, or they will cover these in a separate data-sharing agreement.
The agreement between PAGCOR and DCI will run for five years, and both parties may renew it through mutual written agreement.
In addition to the app, PAGCOR is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center on measures against illegal online gambling operators.