PAGCOR to Launch App Identifying Licensed Online Casinos
Philippines.- 28 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has announced plans to develop a mobile application designed to help players distinguish between licensed online casinos and unregulated gambling platforms.
The tool is expected to launch before the end of 2026 and will expand PAGCOR’s existing PAGCOR Guarantee verification system.
Around 50% Operate Without a Licence
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco revealed that approximately half of the online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines currently operate without proper licensing.
The scale of the unregulated market remains one of the main challenges facing the country’s authorities.
PAGCOR intends to make it easier for players to identify platforms operating within the regulated system.
Two Main Objectives
The forthcoming application will serve two central purposes:
- Reduce illegal online gambling activity.
- Protect players by directing them towards platforms officially regulated and licensed by PAGCOR.
The regulator believes that simplifying licence verification can help improve channelisation towards the authorised market.
Statements
Alejandro H. Tengco acknowledged that keeping players within the regulated sector remains an ongoing challenge for PAGCOR and its law-enforcement partners.
He encouraged online gaming customers to use the forthcoming application and said easier identification of legal platforms would improve protection against illegal operators and the risks associated with unregulated gambling.
Expansion of PAGCOR Guarantee
The application will build on PAGCOR Guarantee, which was launched in June 2025.
The verification system allows consumers to check whether an online gaming website is properly licensed before playing or making payments.
The new mobile app will expand those functions and make them more accessible.
Formal Dispute Resolution
The application will not be limited to licence verification.
PAGCOR confirmed that it will also include a formal dispute-resolution mechanism for players experiencing problems with licensed operators.
This will combine operator verification and selected consumer-protection functions within a single tool.
Multi-Agency Cooperation
PAGCOR is working with several government agencies to tackle illegal gaming.
These include:
- Department of Information and Communications Technology.
- National Telecommunications Commission.
- Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center.
The cooperation combines regulatory, technological and enforcement capabilities.
Targeting Illegal Payment Channels
Authorities are not only focusing on identifying unlicensed websites.
The wider strategy is also aimed at disrupting the financial infrastructure supporting illegal gambling.
A particular focus will be placed on payment channels used by unauthorised platforms.
New Financial Requirements
PAGCOR has also continued to strengthen requirements for regulated operators.
Since June 2026, businesses offering online casino games have been required to pay a minimum guaranteed fee of PHP9 million per month, based on PHP30 million in revenue at a 30% rate.
Operators without online casino games, including certain sports betting businesses, are subject to a PHP3 million minimum guaranteed fee, based on PHP15 million in revenue.
Wider Regulatory Strategy
Tengco is also pursuing broader reform of the Philippines’ online gaming framework.
One of his stated objectives is securing legislative approval for comprehensive online gambling legislation.
The mobile application forms part of that wider effort to strengthen regulation and consumer protection.
GGR Decline
During the second quarter of 2026, PAGCOR generated PHP88.13 billion in Gross Gaming Revenue.
This represented a 20.33% year-on-year decline.
The performance of the regulated market increases the importance of improving channelisation and reducing activity on illegal platforms.
Industry Context
The Philippines is undergoing a significant transformation of its online gaming sector.
Growth in digital gambling has created commercial opportunities but has also been accompanied by the expansion of platforms operating outside the regulatory framework.
An illegal market accounting for around half of online gaming activity creates challenges involving consumer protection, taxation, financial oversight and responsible gambling.
Next Steps or Impact
PAGCOR expects to launch the new application before the end of 2026.
The tool will enable consumers to verify licensed operators, access dispute-resolution mechanisms and more easily identify legal websites.
Its rollout will be accompanied by coordinated government action aimed at blocking unauthorised operators and disrupting the financial channels supporting illegal gaming.
Editó: @fonta
