🇵🇭Philippines gambling regulation

Legal framework at a glance

Gambling in the Philippines is centralised in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a government-owned corporation created under Presidential Decree 1869 of 1983 and extended by Republic Act 9487 in 2007. PAGCOR has the unusual dual role of regulating private casino resorts and online operators while also running its own Casino Filipino chain. Lotteries and some games are run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and special economic zones such as Cagayan and Aurora have their own gaming authorities.

From 2016, PAGCOR licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that served foreign players. Following links to fraud, human trafficking and other crimes, the President announced a total POGO ban in July 2024, formalised by Executive Order 74 in November 2024, with operations required to end by the close of 2024.

The regulator

PAGCOR licenses integrated casino resorts, online gaming platforms for domestic players, electronic gaming sites and service providers. It accredits gaming service providers and has introduced additional accreditation requirements for iGaming suppliers. Critics have long argued its dual role creates a conflict of interest, and proposals to separate regulator and operator, or to privatise Casino Filipino, recur.

Licensing

Domestic online gaming operators hold PAGCOR licences and must use approved platforms, verify that players are Filipino residents aged 21 or over, and connect to PAGCOR’s monitoring systems. Fees are calculated as a share of gross gaming revenue. PAGCOR reported 77 licensed online operators in 2025 against an estimated 12,000 illegal sites. See gambling licensing models.

Product	Status
Online casino (domestic players)	Licensed by PAGCOR
Sports betting	Licensed by PAGCOR
Online poker	Licensed by PAGCOR
Lottery	PCSO
Offshore gaming for foreign players (POGOs)	Banned since end of 2024
Online cockfighting (e-sabong)	Suspended since 2022

Taxation

Licensees pay PAGCOR licence fees and the franchise tax on gross gaming revenue, at rates that vary by product and licence type. A share of PAGCOR’s income goes to the national government and to social programmes. See gambling taxation compared.

Advertising and marketing rules

PAGCOR prohibits ads aimed at minors and requires responsible gaming messages. In 2026, during Senate hearings on online gambling, PAGCOR signalled stricter controls on online gaming advertising, including in public spaces and on social media. See gambling advertising rules.

Player-protection requirements

Licensed online operators must verify identity and age, offer limits and responsible gaming information, and check the NDRP. In August 2025, under Memorandum M-2025-029, the central bank (BSP) gave e-wallets 48 hours to remove in-app links to gambling platforms; GCash and Maya did so on 16 August 2025. See self-exclusion in the Philippines.

Enforcement against unlicensed operators

PAGCOR and law enforcement agencies take down illegal sites and pursue operators, and PAGCOR has funded the National Bureau of Investigation to fight illegal online gambling. Illegal operators nonetheless remain numerous. See spotting unlicensed and black-market operators.

What this means for players

Filipino players should check that an online platform is licensed by PAGCOR and that it verifies age (21+) and identity. PAGCOR publishes information on licensed operators and warns the public about illegal sites, which often reach players through social media ads, text messages and messaging apps. Illegal sites offer no recourse if withdrawals are refused and may misuse personal data. Since August 2025, e-wallet apps no longer provide direct links to gambling sites, but players can still fund accounts by other means, so personal payment controls remain important.

People worried about their gambling, or a family member’s, can use the National Database of Restricted Persons, including family-requested exclusion, and call the PAGCOR helpline or the NCMH crisis line for support. See how to check if a gambling site is licensed, supporting a partner or family member and age verification requirements.

Anti-money laundering

Casinos, including online casinos, are covered persons under the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Act and must identify customers, keep records and report covered and suspicious transactions. The country’s removal from the international grey list in 2025 followed reforms that included tighter supervision of casinos and the end of POGOs. Players should expect identity checks at registration and source-of-funds questions for large transactions. See anti-money laundering in gambling and KYC and identity checks.

Getting help with a complaint

Complaints about a licensed operator should go first to the operator and then to PAGCOR, which can investigate and sanction licensees. Keep screenshots, transaction records and correspondence. See how to file a complaint against a gambling operator.

Recent developments and what to watch

• Ban bills: several Senate bills would prohibit online gambling entirely; PAGCOR argues prohibition would drive players to illegal sites.
• Advertising: tighter rules on online gaming promotion are expected.
• Helpline: the new National Problem Gambling Helpline, launched in May 2026, is expanding staff.

For support services, see the Philippines help directory. This page is general information, not legal advice.