PAGCOR WARNS PUBLIC AGAINST PLAYING IN ILLEGAL ONLINE GAMBLING SITES

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reiterates its call to the public not to patronize or engage in illegal online gambling to avoid being scammed, falling prey to identity theft and credit card fraud. Betting on illegal gambling activities is not only a criminal act; it also takes away from the government billions of pesos in revenues which can be used to fund priority programs that will benefit a greater number of Filipinos.

PAGCOR encourages gaming aficionados to take part only in its licensed online-based gaming like the Electronic games (E-Games) and Electronic bingo games (E-Bingo) for a truly enjoyable and safe gaming experience.

E-Games are virtual games of chance, i.e. casino games and mixed games of chance and skills, while “electronic gaming” means the conduct of electronic games and the taking of wagers through any computer or communication device connected to the Internet or the use of Internet-based technology and other communication devices that are necessary for gaming operations.

E-Bingo game, on the other hand, is a game of chance played using electronic gaming systems with bingo or bingo-styled cards and numbers randomly generated by a Random Number Generator (RNG) and displayed on an electronic screen. It is played through a player terminal, typically an electronic bingo machine. When a player completes any predetermined pattern or combination, the player wins the corresponding prize displayed in the pay table or the jackpot prize.

To widely and effectively execute its campaign against the proliferation of illegal online gambling activities, PAGCOR earlier forged partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Office of Cybercrime (OOC) under the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the formation of an inter-agency council that will handle intelligence gathering, investigations and prosecutions of those involved in illegal online gaming operations.

In addition to PAGCOR’s effort to curb the proliferation of illegal online gambling, legal or registered online gaming websites require membership registration that strictly observe Know-Your-Customer (KYC) features for purposes of verification. New members also have to deposit P1000.00 which cannot be withdrawn for a month from the time of membership. Before one can access the games and play, a verification process is also observed prior to log-in (in order to ensure that only the registered player is using his/her account), i.e. one-time-pin (OTP) is sent to the contact number of the player which must be accurately entered by the player, video calling or biometrics verification.

All legitimate gaming websites have PAGCOR infographics or video clip (discussing responsible gaming reminders) shown during log-in. The Terms of Use (TOU) is also displayed to which the player should agree to prior to playing the games.

Meanwhile, as regards players’ rights, licensed or registered E-Games and E-Bingo sites give them protection through a mechanism or process where they could air complaints and grievances against service providers and gaming operators.

PAGCOR also has a Responsible Gaming Division (RGD) that advocates players to game responsibly. A Player Exclusion Program (under the Responsible Gaming Division) likewise provides patrons – who feel that their relatives or themselves are developing a problem with gambling – with the option of barring them from all gaming venues or sites.

PAGCOR earns an estimated P9 million per day from its legal online gaming operations, and the income it makes supports various poverty-alleviating programs such as the 4Ps, provision of healthcare facilities, construction of school buildings and the training of Philippine national athletes.

To avoid being defrauded, PAGCOR enjoins all E-Games and E-Bingo enthusiasts to check the list of registered and legitimate websites through this link: https://www.pagcor.ph/regulatory/accredited-service-providers.php.

Any link that not posted in the PAGCOR website (www.pagcor.ph) is considered illegal.