Around 50% of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The regulator plans to launch a new application by the end of 2026 to help players identify and access licensed gaming platforms.
PAGCOR Plans New Gaming App
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco revealed the plan during a budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations. He said keeping players within the regulated market remains a major challenge for PAGCOR and law enforcement agencies.
The planned app will aim to direct players toward PAGCOR-licensed platforms that comply with regulatory requirements and provide established player protection measures. According to Tengco, the initiative has two main objectives: reducing illegal online gambling and helping players use platforms that are licensed and regulated.
Players using authorised operators also have access to formal dispute-resolution procedures if problems arise.
However, PAGCOR has not yet disclosed detailed information about the application, including whether it will have technical capabilities to block access to unauthorised gaming websites.
Building on PAGCOR Guarantee
The initiative builds on PAGCOR Guarantee, a verification website launched in June 2025. The service provides an updated list of licensed internet gaming platforms and allows users to access authorised websites directly.
The regulator is also strengthening enforcement efforts against illegal operators. PAGCOR is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Telecommunications Commission and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to identify illegal gaming businesses and the payment channels supporting them.
Philippines Strengthens Online Gaming Oversight
The planned application represents another step in the Philippines’ efforts to shift players from unlicensed platforms into the regulated online gaming sector. By making licensed operators easier to identify and access, PAGCOR aims to improve player protection while reducing the reach of illegal gambling websites.
With around half of accessed online gaming sites reportedly operating outside the regulated framework, the effectiveness of the new app and wider enforcement measures could play an important role in shaping the country’s online gaming market.
