The Philippines is taking another step towards digitalising its online Gaming verification system. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has revealed plans to introduce an official mobile application that will make it easier for users to identify licensed and regulated online Gaming platforms.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco announced the initiative on 24 August during the agency’s budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations. The app is expected to launch before the end of 2026, with player protection and reducing exposure to unregulated online platforms among its main objectives.  

The new application will build on PAGCOR’s existing online verification system. In June 2025, the regulator launched the PAGCOR Guarantee website, which provides the public with a way to check whether an online Gaming platform holds a valid PAGCOR licence. The platform also maintains an updated list of authorised providers.  

Compared with the existing website, the planned mobile app is expected to make the verification process more accessible, allowing users to identify regulated platforms directly through their mobile devices rather than relying on potentially unreliable sources of information.

Tengco told lawmakers that around 50% of online Gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal, highlighting the continuing challenge of directing users towards the regulated market.  

PAGCOR is also coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) as part of broader enforcement efforts against illegal online platforms.  

From the PAGCOR Guarantee website to the upcoming mobile app, the Philippines is increasingly using digital tools to strengthen market oversight. Making licence verification more accessible and transparent could help users distinguish regulated platforms from unregulated alternatives while supporting a more structured online Gaming environment.