PAGCOR targets December launch of app to flag licensed online gambling platforms

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) plans to launch a mobile application by December that lets users verify which online gambling platforms are licensed, as part of a broader crackdown on illegal operators. The agency has approved a five-year partnership with the Development Bank of t

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is targeting a December launch of a mobile application that will help users identify licensed online gambling platforms, as it steps up efforts against illegal online gambling.

PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said the app would strengthen the agency’s drive to protect the public from illegal operators. “This platform will give players a reliable way to verify which online gaming platforms are licensed by PAGCOR. We want the public to make informed choices and avoid falling prey to illegal operators,” Mr. Tengco said in a statement on Monday.

The app’s development and implementation were approved by the PAGCOR Board of Directors on Oct. 8, including a proposed partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines Data Center, Inc. (DCI) to develop, operate and maintain the platform. DCI will handle the app’s development, hosting, operation, maintenance, and technical support at no cost to PAGCOR, the agency said.

Under the arrangement, DCI must present a proof of concept for the app’s minimum viable product for PAGCOR’s evaluation and acceptance before full-scale implementation. The six-month assessment will cover the platform’s proposed features, system architecture, security controls, and overall feasibility.

“PAGCOR may terminate the arrangement if DCI fails to address deficiencies identified during the evaluation period within a reasonable time,” the agency said. The proposed partnership would run for five years and may be renewed upon mutual written agreement.

PAGCOR is also coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to strengthen efforts against illegal online gambling operators.