The Philippines is preparing a PAGCOR app to verify legal online games

A New Tool for Players

The Philippine gambling regulator, PAGCOR, is preparing to launch a dedicated app designed to help users distinguish between licensed online gaming platforms and illegal ones. Alejandro H. Tengco, the agency’s Chairman and CEO, announced this during budget hearings held by the House Committee on Appropriations.

According to PAGCOR, the app is scheduled to launch in late 2026. The project's primary goal is to provide players with a simple tool to verify the legitimacy of gaming sites and to encourage the use of platforms operating under the regulator's oversight.

Combating Illegal Online Gambling

This initiative is part of a broader government campaign against illegal online gambling in the Philippines. According to Tengco, approximately half of the online gaming sites accessible to users in the country may be operating without the necessary authorization.

This situation poses risks to both players and the regulated market. Users of illegal platforms may face a lack of security guarantees, payment issues, inadequate personal data protection, and the absence of dispute resolution mechanisms.

PAGCOR’s new app aims to make operator verification more accessible. Users will be able to rely on licensing information to select platforms that comply with established regulatory requirements.

Expanding the PAGCOR Guarantee System

The new app builds upon digital initiatives the regulator has already implemented. In 2025, PAGCOR launched the "PAGCOR Guarantee" service, enabling the public to verify the licensing status of online gaming providers.

In doing so, the regulator is gradually establishing a unified system for identifying legal operators. The new tool is intended to make this process even more convenient for players while simultaneously enhancing efforts to combat illegal sites.

Monitoring Payments and Cybercrime

PAGCOR’s work extends beyond direct interaction with gaming platforms. The regulator coordinates its actions with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center.

Particular attention is paid to payment infrastructure that could be utilized by unlicensed operators. Monitoring such channels is viewed as a crucial component of the fight against illegal gambling.

What this means for operators

For companies operating in the Philippine market, the development of such tools entails increasingly stringent requirements regarding licensing, transparency, and regulatory compliance. Holding a valid PAGCOR license is becoming not only a legal prerequisite for operations but also a key factor in building player trust.

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