Executive Summary

Operating or facilitating an unlicensed online casino accessible in the Philippines violates anti-illegal gambling laws and can trigger cybercrime, fraud, and anti–money laundering exposure. You can (and should) report:

Criminal conduct to PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or NBI Cybercrime Division;
Regulatory violations to PAGCOR (for gambling operators), NTC/DICT (for site/app blocking), and BSP/SEC/IC (for payment and investment angles);
Data privacy breaches to the National Privacy Commission (NPC); and
Money-laundering red flags to the AMLC (through covered institutions or tipoffs).

This guide maps the full reporting playbook, legal bases, evidence prep, and realistic outcomes—blocking, takedown, criminal cases, and asset tracing—while keeping you safe and credible as a complainant.

What Counts as an “Illegal Online Casino”

Offers games of chance (e.g., slots, live casino, roulette, baccarat, online sabong/fighting, sports betting) to users in the Philippines without a valid license from the competent Philippine authority (typically PAGCOR, or PEZA/Cagayan special regime where lawfully allowed and properly ring-fenced away from the domestic market).
Licensed but violating conditions (e.g., targeting Filipinos when licensed only for offshore markets; allowing underage play; using prohibited payment channels).
Using local agents/affiliates to solicit bets, cash in/out, or launder funds.
Piggybacking on e-wallets/bank transfers with deceptive descriptors (“shopping,” “consulting”) to hide gambling transactions.

Key test: If Filipinos can register, deposit, and wager, and the operator cannot show valid authorization to serve the Philippine market, treat it as illegal for reporting purposes.

Where to Report (and for What)

A. Criminal & Cybercrime

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) – file a criminal complaint with electronic evidence (screenshots, URLs, wallet addresses, bank traces).
NBI Cybercrime Division – alternative or parallel complaint; helpful for forensics and multi-agency operations.

Use when: There’s illegal gambling, swindling/estafa, computer-related fraud, identity theft, or access device abuse.

B. Gambling Regulator

PAGCOR – complaints on unlicensed operations, violations by licensees (e.g., targeting PH players), underage access, and agent networks.

Use when: The site/app is a gambling product, whether seemingly licensed or clearly rogue.

C. Telecoms & Site Blocking

NTC / DICT (CICC) – for blocking access to domains, IPs, mirror sites, apps, and related infrastructure upon law-enforcement request or regulatory coordination.

Use when: You want rapid disruption (DNS/IP blocking) while criminal or regulatory cases proceed.

D. Payments & Financial Channels

BSP-supervised institutions (banks/e-money issuers) – report merchant misuse and request merchant shutdown / chargeback procedures.
AMLC – red-flag information for suspicious transaction reports (STRs) by covered institutions; tip AMLC about cash-in hubs and layering patterns.
SEC / Insurance Commission – if the “casino” doubles as an investment scheme or sells unregistered securities.

Use when: Your deposits went through a PH bank/e-wallet, or the “casino” masks as investment trading.

E. Data Privacy & Consumer Protection

NPC – if the site harvests IDs/selfies or doxxes players; report data breaches and unlawful processing.
DTI / LGUs – for unfair trade practices and local advertising placements.

Use when: KYC documents were misused, leaked, or collected unlawfully.

Evidence: What to Collect (Legally)

Do:

Screenshots/recordings of the site/app (landing pages, game lobbies, terms, deposit/withdraw pages, KYC prompts).
URLs, domain WHOIS data (public), mirror links, app store listings (if any).
Transaction proofs: e-wallet/bank receipts, account statements, reference numbers, chat/email confirmations.
Affiliate/agent trails: Posters, social-media DMs, group invites, QR codes, and GCash numbers used for cash-in/out.
Timeline: Dates/times of registration, deposits, failed withdrawals, and support exchanges.
Your ID is optional at preliminary tip stage—but full complaints need ID and affidavit.

Don’t:

Hack accounts, intercept communications, or record private calls without consent (avoid violations of wiretapping and cybercrime laws).
Engage in entrapment alone; let law enforcement handle controlled buys.

Preserve integrity under the Rules on Electronic Evidence: export files to PDF/CSV, keep original device copies, note hashes if possible, and avoid editing images.

Step-by-Step: Individual Complainant Playbook

Freeze the trail
- Stop transacting. Export account history, e-mails, chats, and payment receipts. Write a chronology.
Draft a one-page incident report
- Who (site/app name, URLs, social pages, agents), What (games, deposit method), When (timeline), Where (city, platform), How much (₱ totals), and What went wrong (e.g., blocked withdrawal).
File criminal/cyber complaints
- PNP-ACG or NBI: submit your report, IDs, and electronic exhibits. Request case reference number and ask about site blocking coordination.
Regulatory complaints
- PAGCOR: report unlicensed operations; include screenshots and URLs.
- NTC/DICT: forward the same packet for blocking (often coordinated via law enforcement).
Payments escalation
- Send a dispute letter to your bank/e-wallet for unauthorized/ misrepresented merchant activity; attach the same evidence. Ask for merchant investigation / account freeze pathways.
Data privacy (if KYC uploaded)
- File a complaint with the NPC if IDs/selfies were taken under false pretenses or leaked.
Follow-through
- Keep acknowledgment receipts, case numbers, and update your evidence binder with any new mirror sites or agent numbers.

Step-by-Step: Business/Platform Owner Playbook

Ad networks, ISPs, app stores, and payment gateways should:
1. Implement keyword and category bans on gambling unless white-listed by PAGCOR;
2. Suspend merchants on credible complaints;
3. File STRs and cooperate with AMLC;
4. Respond to NTC/DICT/PAGCOR takedown requests promptly;
5. Keep audit logs for lawful orders.

Legal Bases & Exposure (Plain-English Map)

Illegal gambling & penalties: Core anti-gambling statutes penalize operation, maintenance, and participation in unlicensed gambling (aggravated for operators/promoters; lesser for mere bettors).
Cybercrime: Computer-related fraud, access device offenses, aiding/abetting via online systems.
Estafa (swindling): For deceit (fake odds, rigged games, withdrawal refusals).
Anti-Money Laundering: Gambling proceeds and suspicious flows through banks/e-money are reportable and subject to freeze/forfeiture.
Data Privacy: Unlawful collection/processing of IDs/KYC; breach notification duties.
Advertising & influencer liability: Endorsers and agencies can face administrative and civil exposure for materially deceptive promotions of illegal gambling.

Outcomes You Can Expect

Access disruption: Domain/IP/app blocking and takedown of mirrors (often iterative).
Criminal cases: Against local agents, cashiers, and identified operators; search/seizure of devices; possible freezes of funds.
Payment off-ramps cut: Banks/e-money terminate merchant accounts, making the operation less viable.
Restitution: Possible via criminal mediation or civil action, but recovery depends on asset tracing and jurisdiction—set expectations accordingly.

Special Situations

Minors/Students targeted – report immediately; operators face enhanced sanctions.
Workplace solicitation – HR can file internal reports and tip PNP/NBI if company channels are used for cash-in/out.
Offshore operations – still report: blocking and local facilitator arrests are feasible; payments via PH channels create domestic hooks.
Victim coercion/extortion – seek police protection; keep all messages; avoid paying “unlock fees.”

Templates (You Can Copy-Paste)

A. One-Page Complaint (Criminal/Regulatory)

Subject: Complaint re: Illegal Online Casino – [Site/App Name] Complainant: [Name, address, mobile, email] Summary: Since [date], I accessed [URL/app], which offers online casino games to Philippine users without showing a valid PAGCOR license. I deposited ₱[amount] via [bank/e-wallet] on [dates]. On [date], my withdrawal was denied and my account was restricted. Evidence attached: Screenshots of site/app (Annex A), payment receipts (Annex B), chat/email threads (Annex C), agent numbers/QR (Annex D), list of mirror domains (Annex E). Relief requested: Investigation for illegal gambling, cyber fraud, site/app blocking, payment channel shutdown, and freezing of related accounts.

B. Bank/E-Wallet Dispute Letter

Subject: Merchant Misuse – Request for Investigation/Closure I deposited ₱[amount] to [merchant/number] on [date] for what was represented as [describe] but was used for an illegal online casino. Please investigate, escalate to AMLC as needed, and inform me of chargeback/credit options.

Safety & Good Practice

Do not meet agents alone or hand over cash.
Do not share your 2FA codes or IDs beyond official requests.
Keep your complaint factual; avoid defamatory public posts that could expose you to counter-claims.
If you’re an insider/employee of a rogue operation, consult counsel regarding whistleblower protection, labor rights, and safe reporting.

FAQs

1) Can players be charged just for playing? Yes, participation can be penalized; however, authorities typically prioritize operators, agents, and financiers. Reporting cooperatively as a victim/witness often mitigates risk—be honest.

2) What if the site shows a foreign license? If it serves PH users, foreign licenses don’t authorize local operations. Report it.

3) Will I get my money back? Maybe—through civil action, criminal restitution, or payment disputes—but recovery depends on traceability and seizures. File early to improve odds.

4) They keep switching to mirror domains. Is that normal? Yes. Send updated lists to investigators; NTC/DICT can keep adding domains/IPs to blocking orders.

5) The site collected my ID/selfie. What now? File with NPC and ask for account deletion. Monitor for identity fraud; notify your bank/e-wallet to flag your account.

Bottom Line

Treat any gambling site/app accessible to Filipinos without clear PAGCOR authority as illegal.
Report smart: file with PNP-ACG/NBI (criminal), PAGCOR (regulatory), NTC/DICT (blocking), BSP/AMLC/SEC (payments/investments), and NPC (data privacy).
Preserve admissible evidence, keep yourself safe, and set realistic recovery expectations.
Early, well-documented complaints help authorities disrupt access, choke payment channels, and build cases against operators and their local networks.

This article provides general legal guidance under Philippine practice. For live cases, tailor your complaint and evidence with counsel and keep close coordination with the handling agency.