The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) plans to introduce an application before the end of 2026 that will help online gaming customers identify licensed platforms.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco announced the initiative during a House Committee on Appropriations budget hearing on August 24. He said around 50% of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, creating an ongoing enforcement and player-protection challenge.
“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,” Mr. Tengco said.
New Tool Builds On Existing Verification System
PAGCOR has yet to disclose the application’s full functionality or confirm whether it will block unauthorized websites. Its stated role will center on helping consumers determine which platforms hold a PAGCOR license.
The planned app follows the 2025 launch of PAGCOR Guarantee, an online verification service that allows the public to check licensed gaming providers and access authorized internet gaming platforms.
Tengco also encouraged players to use the application after its release, linking easier identification of licensed operators with stronger protection from unregulated businesses.
“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,” he said.
PAGCOR has been working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center. Their efforts include pursuing illegal operators and payment channels connected with unauthorized businesses.
Advertising Debate Adds Pressure To Regulation
The planned application comes as lawmakers consider a separate proposal that would prohibit gambling advertising and sponsorship across Philippine media.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero filed Senate Bill No. 2347, the Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act, on July 26, 2026. The bill would prohibit gambling advertising across broadcast, print, outdoor media, websites, applications and social media, while also restricting celebrity and influencer endorsements and gaming sponsorships.
The debate has focused on whether removing advertising by licensed operators could affect the shift of players from illegal platforms into the regulated market. Estimates cited in the material show licensed operators moved above 50% of online gambling activity by December 2025, while Blask estimated the legal share at about 58% in March 2026.
The July 2026 Casino Plus case also illustrated PAGCOR’s enforcement reach over licensed businesses. After actress Ivana Alawi promoted a giveaway involving high-end phones worth more than Php4 million, PAGCOR fined Casino Plus Php1 million and ordered the promotion stopped.
“We already implemented that; they paid Php1 million, and we instructed them to stop the said promotion,” Tengco said.
PAGCOR expects total income to decline by about 18% year-on-year in 2026 to nearly PHP86.95 billion, amid weaker gaming activity. Meanwhile, the regulator continues efforts to direct customers toward licensed operators and away from illegal sites.
The application is expected before the end of 2026, although PAGCOR has not announced a specific launch date or further details about its operation.
Source:
“PAGCOR Plans App to Help Players Find Legal Gaming Sites”, news.worldcasinodirectory.com, August 25, 2026
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