The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) is preparing to launch a mobile application designed to help players identify licensed online casinos and differentiate them from unregulated gambling sites. This announcement was made by Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro H Tengco during a budget hearing in the House on Monday.
Expected to be available before the end of 2026, the app will enhance Pagcor's current verification system known as Pagcor Guarantee. Tengco stated that the primary goals of the app are to diminish illegal online gambling activities and to safeguard players by pointing them toward platforms that are officially licensed and regulated by Pagcor.
Tengco emphasized the magnitude of the issue, noting that approximately 50% of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are operating without the necessary licenses. "Keeping players within the regulated sector has been an ongoing challenge for Pagcor and our law enforcement partners," he explained. He further encouraged players to utilize the Pagcor app, stating, "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."
In collaboration with several government agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC), Pagcor aims to identify unlicensed operators. This joint effort also seeks to disrupt the financial systems that support illegal gambling, particularly the payment channels used by unauthorized platforms.
In addition to license verification, the app will provide a formal dispute resolution mechanism for players encountering issues with licensed operators. Reflecting on past achievements, Tengco mentioned the June 2025 implementation of Pagcor Guarantee, which has allowed players to quickly identify and verify whether online gaming sites are properly licensed prior to engaging or making payments.
Under Tengco's leadership, efforts to strengthen regulatory frameworks have been ongoing. Earlier this year, he outlined three objectives for the next 25 months, including the legislative approval for a comprehensive online gambling law. This involves an operator fee instituted in June, which requires a minimum guaranteed fee of PHP9 million monthly for operators with online casino games, based on revenues of PHP30 million at the 30% tax rate. For operators without online casino games, such as sports betting sites, the fee is PHP3 million based on revenues of PHP15 million.
In the second quarter of this year, Pagcor reported a gross gaming revenue of PHP88.13 billion, reflecting a 20.33% decrease compared to the same period last year.
