The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) plans to launch an application before the end of 2026 to help online gaming players identify licensed and regulated platforms.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco announced the plan during a House Committee on Appropriations budget hearing on August 24. He said the application will support player protection while helping the regulator address the continued presence of illegal online gaming sites.

According to Tengco, around 50% of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines are illegal. PAGCOR has therefore been working with other government agencies to keep players within the regulated market.

“The PAGCOR app has two main objectives: First, to curb illegal online gambling and second, to protect players by ensuring that they play only on platforms licensed and regulated by PAGCOR,” Mr. Tengco said.

The regulator has not yet released detailed information about the application’s features. It has also not said whether the tool will block access to unauthorized websites. Its stated purpose is to make it easier for consumers to identify platforms that hold a PAGCOR license.

App to Support Player Protection

Tengco said using a licensed operator gives players access to a formal process when disputes arise.

He also urged online gaming customers to use the application once it becomes available.

“For those who patronize online gaming, we encourage them to use the PAGCOR App. The easier it is for them to identify where they can legally play, the better we can protect them from illegal operators and the risks that come with unregulated gaming,” he said in a press release.

PAGCOR said the initiative responds to the difficulty of keeping players within the regulated sector. The regulator has been working alongside law enforcement partners to address illegal operators and the services supporting them.

The application will build on an existing verification service. In 2025, PAGCOR launched the PAGCOR Guarantee website, which allows the public to check whether an online gaming provider is licensed. The service also provides access to authorized internet gaming platforms.

PAGCOR Expands Enforcement Cooperation

PAGCOR is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center as part of its efforts against illegal online gaming.

The agencies are pursuing unauthorized operators as well as payment channels used by unlicensed businesses.

The planned application will give players another way to verify where they can legally play. PAGCOR has not indicated whether the tool will provide functions beyond identifying licensed platforms and directing users toward authorized services.

The regulator is also facing changes in gaming activity across the market. During the August 24 budget hearing, Tengco said PAGCOR expects total income to fall by about 18% year-on-year in 2026, reaching nearly PHP86.95 billion (US$1.41 billion), amid weaker gaming activity.

For PAGCOR, the planned application forms part of a wider effort to move online players toward regulated operators. The existing PAGCOR Guarantee website provides a public verification facility, while cooperation with government agencies focuses on enforcement against illegal businesses.

The application is expected to launch before the end of 2026. PAGCOR has yet to announce a specific launch date or provide further details about how the software will operate.