PAGCOR warns public against illegal offshore gaming sites

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) warned the public against illegal offshore gaming websites that claim to be licensed or accredited by the agency. In its warning, the regulator said the sites are presenting themselves as legitimate by copying official marks.

PAGCOR said the same warning covers other forms of impersonation. It said fraudsters are impersonating its top executives to deceive individuals and businesses, and it warned against letters and text messages circulating that claim Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, or POGOs, will reopen¹. The agency did not name any of the websites, the executives impersonated, or the number of complaints received, and none of those details have been reported¹.

The regulator restated the legal position for anyone using such sites.

PAGCOR has previously set up a subsite listing sites it guarantees as legitimate, describing it as a measure to shield the gaming public from criminal activity arising from illegal online gaming sites¹. The agency also publishes contact addresses for self-exclusion and responsible gaming matters and for player account issues on gaming platforms¹.

The warning comes against a background of flat industry revenue. PAGCOR reported that the Philippine gaming industry posted Php94.51 billion in gross gaming revenues in the third quarter of 2025, a slight dip from Php94.61 billion a year earlier¹.

What it means for players

For anyone gambling in the Philippines, the practical effect of the warning is that a PAGCOR logo or a displayed license certificate on a website is not by itself proof that the operator is licensed. PAGCOR says the sites it is warning about use its logo and show fabricated certificates, so those two elements can be copied¹. Players can check a PAGCOR gaming license through the regulator's own records, and the agency's guarantee subsite lists sites it says are legitimate¹.

The warning also covers messages rather than websites. PAGCOR says letters and text messages are circulating that claim POGOs will reopen, and that its executives are being impersonated to deceive individuals and businesses¹. That matters for locals, expats and visitors who receive such messages, because the claim of a POGO reopening is being made by parties PAGCOR describes as unscrupulous, not by the regulator¹.

PAGCOR states that taking part in unauthorized gaming activities is punishable by law¹. It has not said what penalties apply to players, and that has not been reported¹.

What happens next

PAGCOR has not announced any dated next steps in the warning, such as a deadline, a takedown schedule or a list of sites to be blocked, and none have been reported¹. The agency's standing channels for self-exclusion and responsible gaming, and for player account issues on gaming platforms, remain published on its website¹.