PAGCOR official warns of ‘perfect storm’ facing legal gaming sector
Framework on player education, operator training and public outreach presented at Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Forum.
Key points:
– PAGCOR executive highlights risks posed by technology to the integrity of the legal gaming industry
– Three-pronged education framework proposed: player education, operator training and public outreach
– Concerns raised over growth of illegal online gambling in the Philippines
A senior official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has warned that rapid technological change is creating conditions in which illegal gambling operators can flourish while licensed businesses face increasing pressure.
Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Forum held on 11 September at Newport World Resorts, PAGCOR VP for Human Resource and Development Dr Angelito Domingo said: “There are three forces – technology as the tool, the criminal divide as the motive and social impact as the public outcry – that create a perfect storm which threatens the integrity of the legal gaming industry.”
Dr Domingo outlined a three-pronged education framework designed to counter the threat, focusing on player education, operator training and wider public outreach.
Dr Domingo said: “I envision stronger collaboration among gaming and financial regulators, licensed operators, law enforcement, non-government organisations, the community and the players themselves”.
He added that much of the growth in online gambling in the Philippines had been fuelled by the widespread use of mobile devices and limited public awareness of the financial impact of gambling.
Dr Domingo added: “A lot of people are not aware of the financial implications when they engage in gambling. They only realise the impact of what they did when it’s already too late.”
Good to know: Earlier this month PAGCOR confirmed it had voided more than PHP 200 million ($3.5m) in casino winnings claimed by government officials
Under the framework, player education would emphasise responsible play and awareness of gambling-related risks. Operator training would involve mandatory certification to ensure frontline staff can identify and respond to problem gambling.
Public outreach would require joint campaigns and cooperation with regulators, NGOs and law enforcement.
The Philippines has seen rapid growth in online gaming over recent years, with regulators facing pressure to balance expansion with safeguards. In August 2025 the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act was passed, imposing a blanket ban on money-based games, a move that has prompted legal challenges in several courts.
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