How to Report Illegal Online Gambling Websites to PAGCOR and the NTC (Philippines)

Executive summary

Illegal online gambling in the Philippines can be reported to two primary government bodies:

PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) — for regulatory and enforcement referrals concerning unlicensed gambling operations, misleading claims of PAGCOR approval, or violations by licensees.
NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) — for blocking/takedown requests against domains, URLs, IPs, apps, and mirror sites that facilitate illegal gambling.

Other competent authorities—PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), NBI Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD), DICT/CICC, local prosecutors, and AML regulators—may also be involved depending on the facts. This article explains the legal framework, evidence to prepare, the step-by-step reporting procedures, what outcomes to expect, and practical templates.

I. Legal framework and jurisdiction

1) What counts as “illegal online gambling”

Only gambling activities authorized by PAGCOR are lawful. (P.D. No. 1869, as amended by R.A. No. 9487; E.O. No. 13 (2017) clarifies national policy and bars local bodies from authorizing gambling inconsistent with national law.)
Offshore gaming (POGOs) must hold valid PAGCOR licenses; unlicensed operations that target the Philippine market are illegal.
E-sabong/online cockfighting has been suspended nationwide by presidential directive; continuing online e-sabong is unlawful unless and until the suspension is lifted.
Even as a player/bettor, participation in illegal gambling is penalized (see P.D. No. 1602 as amended; R.A. No. 9287 for numbers games).
If the gambling occurs online, the Cybercrime Prevention Act (R.A. No. 10175) applies; penalties for predicate offenses committed “through and with the use of ICT” may be one degree higher (Sec. 6).

2) Who does what

PAGCOR: Regulates, licenses, and oversees legal gambling; receives reports about unlicensed sites, fake PAGCOR seals, license violations, and consumer fraud in gambling.
NTC: Regulates telecommunications and can order ISPs to block access to illegal gambling domains, apps, IPs, and mirrors; coordinates with PAGCOR and law enforcement.
PNP-ACG / NBI-CCD: Investigate crimes, conduct cyber operations, issue preservation requests, and refer cases for prosecution.
Department of Justice / Prosecutors: Evaluate complaints and file cases in court.
AMLC (R.A. No. 9160, as amended by R.A. No. 10927): Casinos are “covered persons”; money laundering red flags arising from illegal gambling may trigger parallel AML actions.

II. Evidence checklist (prepare before you report)

Collect clear, contemporaneous, and verifiable digital evidence. Use the Rules on Electronic Evidence (A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC) as your guide to authenticity, integrity, and chain-of-custody.

Identification of the service
- Full URL(s) and domain (and any redirects/mirror domains).
- App identifiers (name, publisher, version), APK/IPA hashes if available.
- IP addresses and ASNs (if you can capture them legitimately, e.g., DNS lookups).
Marketing claims
- Screenshots showing the site claims to be “PAGCOR-licensed,” displays a PAGCOR seal, or targets Philippine residents (PHP currency, local payment rails, Filipino language).
Transactional proof
- Deposit/withdrawal receipts, bank or e-wallet confirmations, transaction IDs, game histories, and timestamps (Philippine time, Asia/Manila).
Communications
- Chats/emails/DMs with customer support, agents, or “VIP managers”; save headers/metadata where possible.
Technical capture
- Full-page screenshots with visible URL bar and system clock.
- HAR files (if you know how), or at least step-by-step screen recordings.
Harm/impact statement
- Amounts lost, minors targeted, threats/coercion, loan-sharking, or doxxing.

Tip: Keep original files; don’t edit images. Use a simple evidence log noting who gathered each item, when, and how.

III. Step-by-step: Reporting to PAGCOR

When to report to PAGCOR

The site/app operates without a PAGCOR license, or uses a fake license/seal.
The operator is a PAGCOR licensee but is violating license conditions (e.g., permitting Philippine-based play if only offshore authority was granted; misleading ads; unfair practices).
Affiliates/agents recruiting locally for illegal sites.

How to structure your report

Complainant details (you may request confidentiality where appropriate).
Summary of allegations (unlicensed online gambling; fake seal; license breach).
Facts (what you saw, when, where, and how you accessed it).
Evidence list with filenames and brief descriptions.
Legal bases (cite E.O. 13, PD 1602, R.A. 10175, PD 1869 as amended by RA 9487; and if relevant, R.A. 10927 on AML).
Requested action
- Verification of license status
- Cease-and-desist / referral to law enforcement
- Notice to NTC for blocking
- Administrative action against licensees/affiliates (if applicable)
Contact information for follow-up.

Submission channels

Use the official PAGCOR website contact/reporting portals, consumer-affairs or compliance emails, or hotlines published there.
If the matter involves fraud, coercion, or child involvement, simultaneously notify PNP-ACG/NBI-CCD.

What PAGCOR may do

Verify licensing; issue cease-and-desist or show-cause to a licensee.
Refer unlicensed operations to PNP/NBI and AMLC.
Coordinate with NTC for blocking of domains and apps.
Public advisories warning against specific illegal sites.

IV. Step-by-step: Reporting to the NTC for blocking

When to report to the NTC

You seek network-level disruption: domain/IP/app blocking or DNS filtering by ISPs.
You have reason to believe the site targets users in the Philippines or uses local telecom channels (SMS spam for gambling, unsolicited calls/links).

How to structure your NTC request

Subject: Request to Block Access to Illegal Online Gambling Website(s).
Basis: Cite E.O. 13, P.D. 1602, R.A. 10175, and NTC’s statutory powers (R.A. 7925).
Items to block:
- Primary domains/URLs
- Known mirrors/subdomains
- Hosting IPs (noting risk of over-blocking if shared)
- Mobile apps (bundle IDs, store links, sideload APK hashes)
Evidence: Attach your evidence pack and a timeline of observed access from the Philippines.
Coordination: Indicate whether the matter has also been reported to PAGCOR, PNP-ACG/NBI-CCD, or AMLC.

What the NTC may do

Evaluate the complaint and, where justified, issue memoranda or orders to ISPs to block access.
Coordinate with PAGCOR and law enforcement to track mirror domains and repeat blocking as sites re-appear.
Require periodic compliance reporting from ISPs.

V. Parallel and optional reporting

PNP-ACG / NBI-CCD: For criminal investigation, preservation orders, takedowns, arrests, and forensic imaging.
CICC/DICT: For cyber threat intelligence and coordinated responses against fraud rings or phishing tied to gambling.
AMLC: For suspicious transaction reports by covered institutions; individuals can provide tips about mule accounts, cash-in hubs, and laundering typologies.
App Stores / Hosting Providers: File abuse reports for TOS violations to remove apps or hosting services used by the operator.
Data Privacy Complaints (NPC, R.A. 10173): If the site mishandles personal data (e.g., KYC leaks or doxxing).

VI. Protecting yourself when reporting

Do not engage in entrapment or attempt unauthorized access; just preserve what you can observe lawfully.
Mask personal identifiers in public filings; request confidential treatment of sensitive data.
Beware of retaliation and phishing after contacting the operator; rotate passwords and enable MFA.
If you were a victim, document losses for potential restitution and civil actions.

VII. What outcomes to expect (and realistic timelines)

Acknowledgment of your report; request for additional evidence if needed.
Verification by PAGCOR of license status; where unlicensed, referrals to law enforcement and NTC blocking coordination.
Blocking orders can happen relatively quickly for clear-cut cases, but mirror domains often emerge; expect iterative blocking.
Criminal cases (illegal gambling, estafa, cybercrime, AML) may take months; evidence integrity is critical.

VIII. Penalties and exposure

Operators/agents: Imprisonment and fines under P.D. 1602, R.A. 9287 (for numbers games), R.A. 10175 (if cyber-facilitated), and possible money-laundering counts.
Players: Liability under P.D. 1602 (participation), though prosecutorial focus is typically on operators.
Advertisers/affiliates: Liability for aiding or abetting; possible false advertising and consumer protection violations.
Financial mules: Exposure under AMLA and accessory liability.

IX. Practical templates

A. Evidence log (sample)

Item	Date/Time (Asia/Manila)	Description	Source/URL	Captured by	Hash (optional)
001	2025-09-20 21:14	Full-page screenshot of homepage showing “PAGCOR-licensed” claim	https://example-casino[.]com	J.D.	SHA-256…

B. Report to PAGCOR (sample outline)

Subject: Report of Alleged Illegal Online Gambling / Misuse of PAGCOR Seal Complainant: [Name, contact details] Respondent: [Site/App/Operator, if known] Summary: Unlicensed online casino targeting Philippine users; false claim of PAGCOR approval. Facts: [Narrative with dates/times, how accessed, who was involved] Evidence List: [Attach screenshots, receipts, chats, etc.] Legal Bases: PD 1869 (as amended by RA 9487), EO 13 (2017), PD 1602, RA 10175, RA 10927. Relief Sought: (a) License verification; (b) referral to PNP/NBI; (c) coordination with NTC for blocking; (d) administrative sanctions against licensees/affiliates if applicable. Confidentiality Request: [Yes/No]. Declaration: All information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

C. Request to NTC for blocking (sample outline)

Subject: Request to Block Access to Illegal Online Gambling Websites/Apps Complainant: [Name, contact details] Basis: EO 13 (2017), PD 1602, RA 10175, RA 7925. Targets: [List domains/URLs/mirrors/IPs/apps with evidence] Evidence Pack: [Index of attachments with timestamps] Coordination Notes: Also reported to PAGCOR on [date]; PNP-ACG/NBI-CCD notified. Statement of Good Faith: The request is made to protect the public from unlawful gambling and cyber harms.

X. Frequently asked questions

Q1: How do I know a site is PAGCOR-licensed? Check for official PAGCOR licensee disclosures. Be skeptical of seals on the site; verify independently via official channels before trusting claims.

Q2: Can NTC block foreign sites? Yes, NTC can direct Philippine ISPs to restrict access within the Philippines. This does not shut down the server abroad, but it reduces local reach. Mirror domains often reappear; resubmit new indicators.

Q3: I already deposited money. What can I do? Preserve all records. File reports with PAGCOR and law enforcement, and contact your bank/e-wallet to flag the transaction. Consider a criminal complaint (illegal gambling/estafa) and consult counsel for civil recovery.

Q4: What if minors are involved? Flag this prominently. Additional laws on child protection and online exploitation may apply, triggering urgent action.

XI. Compliance notes for companies and schools

Blocklist known gambling domains at the DNS gateway; enforce safe-search and app store restrictions on managed devices.
Update AUPs to prohibit gambling access on corporate networks; conduct security awareness on gambling-linked scams and phishing.
For payment platforms: strengthen monitoring for gambling MCCs, mule behavior, and chargeback abuse.

XII. Closing guidance

Reporting is more effective when:

The facts are specific, the evidence is organized, and requests are clear (verification, enforcement, blocking).
You coordinate: submit to PAGCOR (regulatory), NTC (blocking), and law enforcement (criminal investigation) in parallel, especially for active harm.
You follow up with new mirrors and indicators as they surface.

If you want, provide the details you’ve gathered (URLs, screenshots, and any transactions) and this article’s templates can be tailored into ready-to-send reports.