Pagcor app to guide players to legitimate online gaming sites due before year-end: Tengco
The Philippine gaming regulator is to launch before year-end a software application to help consumers ensure they are accessing only licensed and regulated online gaming platforms. That is according to comment by Alejandro Tengco, chairman and chief executive of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming…
The Philippine gaming regulator is to launch before year-end a software application to help consumers ensure they are accessing only licensed and regulated online gaming platforms. That is according to comment by Alejandro Tengco, chairman and chief executive of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), speaking during a committee session at the Philippines Congress on Monday. Mr Tengco noted that “around 50 percent” of online gaming sites accessed currently in the Philippines were actually “illegal”. “For those who patronise online gaming, we encourage them to use the Pagcor app,” once it is launched, he stated. “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 that come with unregulated gaming,” Mr Tengco added. “Around 50 percent of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, and keeping players within the regulated sector has been an ongoing challenge for Pagcor and our law enforcement partners,” the head of the regulator noted. His comments were to the House of Representatives’ House Committee on Appropriations, during a hearing to discuss Pagcor’s budget. Mr Tengco said the coming Pagcor app had “two main objectives”. The first was to “curb illegal online gambling,” and second was to “protect players by ensuring that they play only on platforms licensed and regulated by Pagcor,” he added. Playing through a licensed operator, said Mr Tengco, provides players with a mechanism to seek redress if disputes arise. In 2025, the regulator launched its “PAGCOR Guarantee” website, for the public to check whether an online gaming provider is licensed by the country’s regulator or not. In other comments during Monday’s committee hearing, Mr Tengco said Pagcor expected its total income to decline by about 18 percent year-on-year in 2026, to nearly PHP86.95 billion (US$1.41 billion), amid weaker gaming activity in the country.