PAGCOR enacts education framework to fight illegal gambling
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced it is implementing a gaming education framework that focuses on player education, operator training, and public outreach to address growing social concerns associated with illegal online gambling. This development was shared by PAGCOR Vice President for Human Resource and Development Group Dr. Angelito Domingo (pictured above) in his speech at the Asia-Pacific Regulators’ Forum at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
Three-pronged gaming education framework
Domingo shared that a three-pronged gaming education framework can help address the problem. “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,” he said.
Domingo explained that collaboration is crucial in the fight against the proliferation of illegal sites. “This framework envisions stronger collaboration among gaming and financial regulators, licensed operators, law enforcement, non-government organisations, the community, and the players themselves,” he said.
The challenge with technology
The PAGCOR official said that the local gaming industry must recognise that technological advances are fuelling an unstable environment where illegal operators can thrive while legitimate businesses struggle.
The Philippines is reportedly witnessing a dramatic rise in interest and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), including in the country’s gaming industry, according to the e-Conomy SEA (Southeast Asia) report 2024 by Google. During the report’s launch, Nikki Del Gallego, Data and Insights Lead at Google Philippines, said that the growing curiosity stems from AI’s diverse applications in education, marketing, gaming, and mobile apps. “From transforming the way Filipinos learn to empowering businesses with AI-driven strategies, this technology is already reshaping industries,” Del Gallego earlier said.
Growth of iGaming
Domingo explained that the rise of online gaming in the Philippines is driven by the accessibility of technology and Filipinos’ heavy reliance on mobile devices. According to the recent data from the agency, the Philippine gaming industry recorded growth in the first half of 2025, with gross gaming revenues (GGR) reaching PHP214.75 billion (€3.31 billion) – up 26 percent from PHP171 billion (€2.63 billion) during the same period last year. Online gaming continued to dominate the landscape, which accounted for PHP114.83 billion (€1.77 billion), or 53.47 percent of total GGR during the six months.
“Also, a lot of people are not aware of the financial implications when they engage in gambling. They only realize the impact of what they did when it’s already too late. They could have done better by being educated at the onset,” he said. “Player education should centre on responsible play and awareness of gambling’s financial and psychological risks, which we are currently doing.”
Domingo also emphasised the role of the operators in the country. “Operator training, on the other hand, should involve mandatory certification to ensure that frontline staff can identify and respond to problem gamblers.”
