The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is preparing to launch an app that will let players verify whether online gaming sites are licensed. The app is expected to go live later this year as part of a broader government campaign against unlicensed operators and their payment channels.
Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco disclosed the application during a budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations. PAGCOR later confirmed the initiative in a media release.
“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,” said Tengco.
The tool is designed to simplify the process for players seeking authorized gaming sites that comply with regulatory requirements and consumer safeguards.
“Around 50% 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.
“For those who patronize online gaming, we encourage them to use the PAGCOR app. The easier it is for them to identify where they can legally play, the better we can protect them from illegal operators and the risks that come with unregulated gaming,” Tengco added.
The application builds on PAGCOR’s existing consumer-protection infrastructure. In 2025, the regulator launched the PAGCOR Guarantee page, an online verification facility that allows the public to check the licensing status of online gaming providers.
PAGCOR is also working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to prosecute illegal online gaming operators, including action against the payment channels used by unlicensed platforms.