PAGCOR to launch 24/7 problem-gambling helpline in 2026
The Philippines’ gaming regulator, PAGCOR, has confirmed that a nationwide 24/7 problem-gambling helpline will go live in 2026, marking what officials describe as a major step forward for player protection at a time of rapid growth in the country’s gambling industry.
The commitment was confirmed by Vina Claudette Oca, the Assistant Vice President of the Gaming Licencing and Development Department (GLDD) at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), during a panel session at G2E Asia 2025 in the Philippines. She said the hotline would become a “milestone” in the government’s responsible-gaming drive and help rebuild public trust at a time when attitudes towards gambling, particularly online betting, remain sharply divided.
Oca noted that PAGCOR had long recognised the need for round-the-clock support. Earlier versions of the regulator’s Responsible Gaming Code already referenced a dedicated hotline, but the 2026 launch will be the first time a fully operational, public-facing helpline is deployed with structured partnerships for counselling and intervention. Officials say the infrastructure is now in place to support callers, families and at-risk players on a national scale.
Tightening control on gambling ads
Alongside the hotline, PAGCOR is tightening control over gambling-related advertising. Oca confirmed that the regulator, working with the Advertising Standards Council (ASC), has already ordered the removal of gambling promotions from billboards and other out-of-home displays across the country. All new advertising is now screened by ASC before publication, with further restrictions planned for 2026. The aim, she said, is to curb aggressive marketing practices without disrupting legal operators.
“It would be a “milestone” project that would further protect patrons, and cement public trust in the regulator.”
-Vina Claudette Oca, Assistant VP of licencing, PAGCOR
These reforms come in the middle of an intense political debate in the Philippines over the visibility of gambling and the rise of online gaming. The surge in offshore and domestic platforms through 2024 and 2025 prompted calls from lawmakers and advocacy groups for stronger safeguards, tougher payment-channel monitoring and more robust social-protection measures. PAGCOR has since expanded self-exclusion tools and strengthened partnerships with organisations such as the Seagulls Flock, which supports recovery and counselling.
Operators are self-adapting new tools
Reportedly, operators themselves are adapting new tools to reduce gambling harm. Nerie Aquino, compliance director at Okada Manila, said the casino was committed to “sustainable gaming” and pointed to how technology is reshaping day-to-day oversight. Okada has used facial recognition since 2017 to detect banned or restricted individuals, linking directly to PAGCOR’s National Database for Restricted Persons for real-time alerts. The resort also performs complete KYC checks and conducts random verification on people entering the casino floor.
Even in the online sector, reforms are underway. Erick Su, head of ArenaPlus at DigiPlus Interactive Corp, confirmed on the same panel that digital data now allows operators to identify risky behaviour faster than before. ArenaPlus is now using registration information and activity patterns to push responsible-gaming messages, enforce KYC rules and intervene when customers show signs of distress. Su said the sportsbook monitors social-media chatter within its large fan community, allowing the platform to flag sudden losses, compulsive play or emotional posts.
With the helpline approaching launch and advertising rules set to tighten further, PAGCOR is positioning the reforms as part of a major attempt to modernise the sector. Officials say the goal is to ensure that as gambling expands, protections expand with it, and that regulated platforms remain safer, more transparent alternatives to unlicenced online operators.
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