Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175566578299920250711-online-gambling-JC-0474-Edit-Edit (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — More than 60 percent of online gambling sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).</p><p>During the budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday, PAGCOR chairperson and CEO Alejandro Tengco said these sites operate outside the country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/11/econ-managers-back-stricter-rules-on-online-gambling-not-total-ban-1719">Econ managers back stricter rules on online gambling, not total ban</a></div><p>&quot;Today, nakalulungkot man sabihin, wala pa pong 40 percent ang legal online gaming dito sa Pilipinas. At mahigit 60 percent ang illegal pa sa pangkasalukuyan. Ang mga illegal na site na ito ay hindi nag-o-operate dito sa ating bansa. Ito ay mga dayuhang tina-target ang mga customer na Pilipino,” Tengco said.</p><p>“‘Yun ay nagmumula sa iba’t ibang bansa tulad ng Russia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cambodia, mga kapitbahay natin, maski Singapore ay nate-trace ng DICT at CICC na doon nagmumula ang mga iligal,” he added.</p><p>PAGCOR is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation to address illegal gambling sites.</p><p>“Doon sa kumulang na pitumpung may lisensya sa PAGCOR na online gaming, regulated po sila at sumusunod sa mga patakaran, tulad ng pagsusugal lamang ng 21 taong gulang o higit pa. Pero doon po sa illegal operators ay nakapagsusugal sinuman… They give them so much room para maadik sila,” Tengco noted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/16/removing-online-gambling-from-e-wallets-seen-as-good-first-step-2019">Removing online gambling from e-wallets seen as good first step</a></div><p>But Tengco said “advances in technology” make it difficult.</p><p>“Bina-block din nila ‘yun. Pero marami nang advances in technology. ‘Yung mga tinatawag na VPN. Hindi mo na nakikita ano ‘yung operations nila na nagmumula abroad… Definitely bina-block po nila, pero kahit paano ay nakalulusot ang mga illegal na iyon,” he explained.</p><p>“Unfortunately, ay talagang hirap na hirap po na ating mapigil itong online gaming na illegal,” Tengco admitted.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>50 PERCENT DECLINE IN TRANSACTIONS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Online gambling transactions declined by half after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ordered e-wallet service providers to unlink from online gambling platforms, according to PAGCOR’s estimates.</p><p>“Magsimula po ng araw ng Linggo hanggang kahapon ay bumagsak ng siguro ay 50 percent ang online gaming transactions magsimula nang iniutos ng Bangko Sentral na mag-delink muna ang e-payment platforms na ito sa integration with online gaming companies,” Tengco said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/9/licensed-online-gambling-operators-unite-vs-illegal-gambling-1230">Licensed online gambling operators unite vs illegal gambling</a></div><p>Akbayan Party List Representative Chel Diokno, however, said they continue to receive reports that in some online gambling platforms, the option to pay using e-wallet remains. </p><p>“We continue to receive reports that despite that order, kung pupunta tayo sa online gambling platforms, mayroon pa ring options to pay using e-wallet. Are you aware of this?” he asked.</p><p>&quot;Yes, we have been monitoring it… Talagang napakahirap lang tugisin at pahintuin ng mga illegal. Pero doon sa mga legal na licensees na PAGCOR… sumunod sila sa utos ng Bangko Sentral na mag-delink sa pangkasalukuyan,” Tengco replied.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROGRAMS AGAINST GAMBLING ADDICTION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Lawmakers questioned PAGCOR on the growing online gambling addiction in the country.</p><p>Tengco assured congressmen that PAGCOR has programs to prevent addiction, including a responsible gaming group, which assists those who experience such problem.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/7/16/addiction-to-online-gambling-a-mental-health-issue-doh-1507">Addiction to online gambling a mental health issue — DOH chief Herbosa</a></div><p>But in the last three years, only seven reports of gambling addiction were received by PAGCOR. The individuals were referred to accredited rehabilitation centers.</p><p>PAGCOR also implements a self-exclusion program, and approved around 2,000 requests under it, according to Tengco.</p><p>“2,000 exclusions have been approved by PAGCOR. It is ongoing. And maski mag-request muli ang pamilya or ‘yung mismong naglalaro or ‘yung excluded na siya ay gustong maglaro muli, hindi po namin pinapahintulutan ito. We abide by the one-year rule, kung saan matapos ang isang taon, doon lang namin ie-evaluate kung karapat-dapat kang maglaro,” he said.</p><p>PAGCOR, meanwhile, is eyeing the use of artificial intelligence-powered tools to track the playing habits of consumers, and suspend accounts that encounter huge losses.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/7/bangko-sentral-to-impose-stricter-rules-on-banks-e-wallets-vs-online-gambling-1440">Bangko Sentral to impose stricter rules on banks, e-wallets vs online gambling</a></div><p>“Pwede na pong ma-monitor or ma-track ang playing habits ng mga consumers, kung saan, kung makikita ng software o mamo-monitor sa software na mas malaki ang natatalo mo sa iyong pagkapanalo, malaki na ang dine-deposito mo compared to your average deposit then automatically your account will be suspended and reviewed,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Sa mga susunod pong buwan ay baka po makapag tie up na po kami dito sa mga software companies na ito para po magamit na natin itong mga AI powered tools na ito,” Tengco added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>STRICTER REGULATION INSTEAD OF TOTAL BAN?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>PAGCOR supports pending bills seeking stricter regulation of online gambling, according to Tengco.</p><p>He believes that even if the government bans online gambling, illegal sites will continue to operate.</p><p>“‘Pag i-ban natin ang online (gambling) totally, natitiyak ko po at maraming sasang-ayon, lalu na ang DICT at CICC, magpapatuloy pa rin ‘yan because of technology. Makalulusot pa rin ang illegal dahil sa… mule merchants. Hahanap at hahanap ng paraan para maka-connect din sila sa payment apps,” Tengco explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/cbcp-joins-calls-to-regulate-online-gambling-1148">&#x27;Deep moral problem&#x27;: CBCP joins calls to regulate online gambling</a></div><p>“Mayroon pa pong mga dapat gawin para higpitan ang mga regulasyon at istruktura ukol sa online gaming. Kaya ako ay kasama ninyo sa inyong proposal o sa proposed bill ninyo na hindi lamang dapat per administrasyon, kundi isang batas na magtatakda ng mas mahigpit na regulasyon ukol sa online gaming,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SaptrrtQw2U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fY-DDhr_0X0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABfBx53Svzj-TYSQ"></script>

<p>More than 60 percent of online gambling sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, according to the Pagcor.</p>

More than 60 percent of online gambling sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, according to the Pagcor.

Pagcor: Over 60 pct of online gambling sites accessed in the Philippines 'illegal'

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Pagcor: Over 60 pct of online gambling sites accessed in the Philippines 'illegal'

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 20, 2025 01:00 PM PHT

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Updated August 20, 2025 10:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Pagcor

gambling

online gambling

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