The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has detailed a series of strengthened online gambling controls amid heightened scrutiny from lawmakers, as reported by Philippine News Agency. During a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing, Chairperson Alejandro Tengco said the agency is intensifying safeguards to address the social and financial risks raised by legislators.
Tengco confirmed that gambling advertisements are already prohibited during primetime broadcast hours and that PAGCOR is consulting industry stakeholders on whether a full-day ban across television and radio is feasible. He added that regulators are also monitoring digital platforms, where illegal gambling promotions have proliferated.
Jessa Mariz Fernandez, Officer in charge of PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department, said earlier gaps that allowed players to enter platforms before identity verification have been closed. Under updated KYC rules, registrants must provide their full name, contact information, a valid government-issued ID, and a real-time selfie with the ID before making any deposit. The measure aims to curb the use of borrowed or fake identities, a concern frequently raised by senators.
PAGCOR is also finalizing advertising guidelines with the Ads Standards Council and reporting illegal digital ads to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Telecommunications Commission for blocking.
Fernandez said PAGCOR is strengthening its Responsible Gaming Practice program in the first quarter of 2026. Initiatives include localized translations of the “Gambling is addictive, know when to stop” message, online self-exclusion tools, accreditation of treatment centres, stricter KYC enforcement, and the removal of gambling-related outdoor advertising. A 24/7 helpline for problem gamblers and their families is also under development.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, Chair of the Committee, said the inquiry seeks to address weak enforcement that exposes minors, enables identity misuse, and heightens money-laundering risks. “Gambling regulation is now a matter of consumer protection, digital safety and protection of the financial system,” he said.
PAGCOR is working with the Ads Standards Council and cybercrime agencies to block illegal online gambling promotions across digital platforms
