PAGCOR withholds $3.5M in gambling winnings of govt. workers
The Philippines’ state gaming regulator has confirmed that more than ₱200 million (€3.2 million) in casino winnings were withheld or voided in the first seven months of the year after it was found that the winners were government officials or employees banned from gambling.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco said the decision followed strict enforcement of rules barring elected officials, civil servants, and uniformed personnel from entering casinos.
“This year, up to July, there is more than ₱200 million (€3.2m) that we have voided, or we did not award prizes hit by these restricted persons: elected LGU officials, government employees,” Tengco told a local radio station, aka True FM 109.5.
Secondary screenings in motion
He explained that casinos operated by PAGCOR, as well as licenced private casinos, conduct “secondary screening” whenever a player comes forward to claim winnings. At this stage, customers are required to present valid identification and may also be verified through CCTV monitoring. If it is found that they are government employees or officials, their winnings are withheld.
“Even if they appeal, we will never give them their winnings,” Tengco said. The agency came under fire earlier this year after suspended Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Henry Alcantara admitted that he and colleagues had frequented casinos despite the ban. Alcantara claimed some used aliases and fake IDs to enter, and even suggested they were issued VIP passes. As a result, PAGCOR initiated an investigation into the matter.
CSC warns government employees
Separately, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminded government workers that they face administrative sanctions if caught gambling during office hours. The prohibition applies to both land-based casinos and online platforms. Offenders may be charged with “conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service” under civil service rules.
The issue came into sharper focus last week after PAGCOR confirmed that its National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP), which lists over 560,000 names, mostly of elected officials and other government employees, had been accessed by an international hacking group.
A group calling itself Deathnote Hackers International posted details of the breach on an online forum, claiming the database contained individuals who might still gamble despite being barred, including some addicted players. “PAGCOR, let’s call it what it is: you are an enabler of addiction, whether you like it or not,” the group said.
PAGCOR rejected this claim, insisting that the NDRP is not a list of gambling addicts but simply a compilation of people legally restricted from gambling. These include elected officials, civil servants, police officers, and members of the military.
The regulator added that its core systems were not hacked. Instead, it suggested the breach likely came from one of its licensed casino operators, which are granted access to the database to enforce restrictions at their venues. Despite the controversy, Tengco maintained that PAGCOR is committed to implementing strict measures against government officials and employees who attempt to engage in gambling, and that enforcement will remain uncompromising.
