The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has revealed plans for a mobile application aimed at helping players differentiate between licensed online casinos and unregulated platforms. This announcement was made by Pagcor chairman and chief executive Alejandro H Tengco during a House budget hearing.
The new app, slated for release before the end of 2026, will enhance Pagcor's existing verification system, dubbed Pagcor Guarantee. According to Tengco, this application will address two key issues: curbing illegal online gambling and protecting players by guiding them to platforms that are officially regulated and licensed by Pagcor.
"Around 50% of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines currently operate without proper licensing," Tengco emphasized, underscoring the challenge at hand. "Keeping players within the regulated sector has been an ongoing challenge for Pagcor and our law enforcement partners. For those who engage in online gaming, we encourage them to utilize 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 associated with unregulated gaming."
To bolster this initiative, Pagcor is collaborating with various government agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC). This joint effort aims not only to identify unlicensed operators but also to disrupt the financial channels used by these unauthorized platforms.
In addition to license verification, the app will provide players with a formal dispute resolution mechanism for issues encountered while engaging with licensed operators. Tengco noted the successes of prior initiatives, pointing out the launch of Pagcor Guarantee in June 2025, which enabled players to easily verify the licensing of online gaming sites prior to placing bets or making payments.
Tengco's commitment to advancing regulatory frameworks has been steadfast. Earlier this year, he outlined three objectives for the next 25 months, including securing legislative approval for a comprehensive online gambling law. This also encompasses an operator fee implemented in June, where Pagcor requires a monthly minimum guaranteed fee of PHP9 million based on a revenue of PHP30 million at a 30% tax rate for operators offering online casino games, and PHP3 million for those without online casinos, such as sports betting platforms.
In financial terms, Pagcor reported PHP88.13 billion in gross gaming revenue during the second quarter of this year, marking a 20.33% decrease compared to the same period last year.
