Quick answer

Report suspected illegal online gambling to both:

PAGCOR, so the regulator can verify whether the operator, brand, exact website, and promotion are authorized; and
The PNP or NBI, when bets are being collected, people are operating a gambling business, money or identities have been taken, or another crime may be involved.

Before reporting, preserve the exact URL, account name, screenshots, messages, payment details, transaction references, referral codes, and any known physical address. Do not place a bet, confront the people involved, or enter private premises merely to obtain evidence.

Not every online gambling advertisement is necessarily illegal. PAGCOR still authorizes certain domestic online gaming platforms. However, an operator’s license does not automatically authorize every website, affiliate, influencer, or advertisement using its name. Philippine offshore gaming operators—POGOs, internet gaming licensees, and related offshore gaming operations covered by Executive Order No. 74—were required to cease operations by 31 December 2024.

First determine what you are reporting

A report can concern one or more of the following:

An online casino, betting site, electronic bingo service, numbers game, poker site, or similar platform that appears unlicensed
A social-media page, influencer, group chat, livestream, text message, or private message recruiting players
A referral or “agent” system collecting deposits or commissions
A website falsely displaying the PAGCOR name, logo, or supposed certificate
A licensed brand being promoted through a different or unregistered domain
An advertisement that appears misleading, targets minors, promises guaranteed income, or presents gambling as a solution to financial problems
A physical office, studio, call center, payment hub, or residence apparently supporting online gambling
A former POGO or offshore gaming operation continuing after the nationwide ban
Fraud, identity theft, threats, nonpayment of withdrawals, unauthorized transactions, trafficking, confinement, or other crimes connected with the operation

Describe what you personally observed. Use terms such as “suspected,” “appears to,” or “for verification” when you do not have proof of a final legal conclusion.

Check the operator and exact domain

Use PAGCOR’s PAGCOR Guarantee and its current list of accredited gaming system administrators, brands, and registered domains.

Check all of the following:

The operator or gaming system administrator
The brand
The complete domain, including spelling and domain extension
Any subdomain or redirect
The particular game being offered

A familiar brand name is not enough. Fraudulent sites commonly imitate legitimate brands or use a similar-looking URL. A foreign gambling license, offshore registration, business permit, or image of a PAGCOR logo is not a substitute for the Philippine authorization required for the activity being offered here.

If the exact site is not listed, save evidence and ask PAGCOR to verify it. Absence from a list is an important warning sign, but the regulator should make the authoritative licensing determination.

Where to report

1. PAGCOR: licensing and advertising concerns

Send reports concerning suspected unlicensed platforms, fake PAGCOR credentials, questionable affiliates, unauthorized promotions, or possible violations by licensed operators to:

Email: info@pagcor.ph
Telephone: +63 2 8521-1542 or +63 2 8522-0299
Online contact information: PAGCOR regulatory contact page
Address: PAGCOR Corporate Office, MET Live Building, Central Business Park 1-A, Macapagal Boulevard corner EDSA Extension, Pasay City 1300

Use a subject line such as:

Suspected illegal online gaming platform — [brand/domain]

or:

Possible unauthorized gambling advertisement — [platform/account]

Ask for a reference or acknowledgment number. If the concern involves fraud, active bet collection, threats, or a physical operation, do not rely on a PAGCOR report alone; also contact law enforcement.

2. PNP: active operations and crimes in progress

Report to the nearest police station or request referral to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group when the conduct involves:

Active collection of wagers or deposits
Online fraud or account takeover
Threats, extortion, harassment, or coercion
A known office, studio, payment hub, or other operating location
An operation that may relocate or destroy evidence
Possible trafficking, unlawful confinement, or violence

Call 911 for an immediate threat to life or safety, a crime in progress, suspected confinement, or another emergency. The government’s Unified 911 service is free and available nationwide 24/7.

Do not warn the suspected operators or conduct your own surveillance. Premature confrontation can endanger people and cause accounts, devices, or financial records to disappear.

3. NBI Cybercrime Division

The NBI accepts complaints and requests for investigation involving computer-related crimes. Available channels include:

NBI Cybercrime Division email: ccd@nbi.gov.ph
Online channel: NBI Online Complaint
In person: NBI Cybercrime Division or an NBI Regional Cybercrime Center

Under the NBI’s published procedure for computer-crime complaints, filing is free. A complainant may be interviewed, asked to complete a complaint sheet, execute a sworn statement or submit an affidavit, provide supporting records, and make a relevant device available for examination. The published frontline-processing estimate is not a promise that the investigation or prosecution will finish within that period.

4. DOJ Office of Cybercrime

A cybercrime incident may also be referred to the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime:

Email: cybercrime@doj.gov.ph
Telephone: +63 2 8524-8216
Official guidance: DOJ reporting of cybercrime incidents

The Office of Cybercrime acts on complaints and referrals and coordinates cybercrime investigation and prosecution. It does not replace the need to contact police immediately when intervention is urgent.

5. Local government

If you know the physical location, you may also report it to the city or municipal government, local police, or barangay for documentation and referral. Executive Order No. 74 directs local governments to support enforcement against offshore gaming operations.

A barangay blotter can help document a local occurrence, but barangay proceedings are not a required first step before reporting suspected illegal gambling or cybercrime to the PNP, NBI, PAGCOR, or DOJ.

6. The website or social-media platform

After preserving the evidence, report the account, advertisement, group, app, or livestream through the platform’s reporting system. Select the most accurate category, such as illegal gambling, scam, fraud, regulated goods, or harm to minors.

A platform report may lead to removal, but it is not a substitute for reporting the operator to Philippine authorities. Save the platform’s confirmation and case number.

Evidence to preserve

Preserve evidence before blocking an account or requesting takedown. Collect only material you can access lawfully.

Online content

Save:

The complete URL, including redirects
The account handle, page name, numeric page or user ID if visible
Screenshots showing the whole screen, date, time, and address bar
A screen recording showing how the page, advertisement, or redirect was reached
The advertisement ID, advertiser information, or ad-library entry
Posts, captions, comments, livestream dates, and promotional claims
Referral links, invitation codes, agent codes, QR codes, and promo codes
App name, download page, developer name, and app-store link
Messages, emails, text messages, and group-chat invitations
Phone numbers, usernames, email addresses, and messaging-app IDs
Claims of licensing or photographs of supposed permits and certificates

Payment and account records

Preserve:

Deposit and withdrawal instructions
Bank or e-wallet account names and numbers
Merchant names and QR-payment details
Transaction dates, amounts, and reference numbers
Receipts, statements, and failed-withdrawal notices
Cryptocurrency wallet addresses and transaction hashes, if applicable
Requests for identification documents, selfies, one-time passwords, or card information

Give complete financial details only to the regulator, financial institution, or investigating authority. Redact account numbers and personal information from public posts.

Physical-operation details

Record, without trespassing or exposing yourself to danger:

The exact address or map location
Signs, unit numbers, floor numbers, or building names
Dates and usual operating hours
Vehicles, deliveries, or equipment observed from a lawful position
Names or descriptions supplied voluntarily by witnesses
Why the premises appear connected with the online operation

Preserve originals

Keep the original files and device where practicable. Do not crop, annotate, rename, compress, or repeatedly forward the only copy. Make a separate working copy if you need to highlight something. Keep a short chronology explaining when and how each item was obtained.

Electronic records may require authentication under the Supreme Court’s Rules on Electronic Evidence. Screenshots are useful, but investigators may also need the original message, device, account, file metadata, or testimony from the person who captured it.

If you already sent money or personal information

Act immediately:

Contact the bank, e-wallet, card issuer, or payment provider through its official channel. Report fraud, request any available hold or recall, and ask that relevant records be preserved.
Change compromised passwords from a safe device and enable multi-factor authentication.
Block affected cards or payment credentials.
Do not give anyone an OTP, PIN, password, recovery code, or remote access to your device.
Preserve all communications before blocking the suspected operator.
File a police or NBI complaint and include the transaction references.
Notify PAGCOR so it can verify the platform and take regulatory or referral action.

Reporting does not guarantee recovery. Speed matters because funds may be transferred and online records may disappear.

What to include in the report

A useful report can follow this format:

Reporter: Full name and reliable contact details Subject: Suspected illegal online gambling promotion or operation Brand/account/domain: Platform where found: Date and time observed: What happened: A factual, chronological account Why it appears unauthorized or harmful: Money or personal data involved: Known payment accounts or transaction references: Known physical location: Immediate safety concerns: Attached evidence: Numbered list of screenshots, files, messages, and receipts Other agencies already notified: Include reference numbers

If several accounts promote the same operation, explain the connection instead of sending unexplained batches of screenshots.

Advertising rules matter even for licensed operators

PAGCOR’s authorization of a platform does not give unrestricted permission to advertise.

PAGCOR and the Ad Standards Council announced in 2025 that branded or corporate gambling advertisements—including television, radio, online, and outdoor advertising—must undergo ASC review and approval before public release. PAGCOR also ordered the removal of gambling-related billboards and other out-of-home advertising, allowing only approved institutional or responsible-gaming campaigns in those spaces. In June 2026, PAGCOR further directed covered entities to replace affected out-of-home responsible-gaming materials with the national problem-gambling-helpline template. See PAGCOR’s advertising announcement and June 2026 directive.

PAGCOR’s responsible-gaming standards also prohibit advertisements that target children, feature people who are or appear to be under 21, encourage socially irresponsible gambling, or suggest that gambling solves financial problems.

Members of the public usually cannot determine from appearance alone whether an online advertisement received the necessary approval. Preserve it and ask PAGCOR to verify compliance.

Relevant Philippine legal framework

Presidential Decree No. 1602 penalizes participation in and the conduct or maintenance of unauthorized gambling, including specified forms of involvement such as collecting bets or knowingly allowing premises to be used. The precise offense and penalty depend on the person’s proven acts, role, and circumstances.

Under Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, crimes under the Revised Penal Code or special laws committed through information and communications technology are covered by the Act, with the stated penalty consequence when that provision properly applies.

Executive Order No. 13 directs the PNP, NBI, and other agencies to coordinate against illegal gambling. Its definition includes gambling schemes prohibited by law or conducted without the required license or authority.

Executive Order No. 74 imposed the nationwide ban on POGOs, internet gaming licensees catering to offshore players, other offshore gaming operators, and covered support services. Previously licensed operations were required to cease by 31 December 2024. The order did not impose a blanket prohibition on every PAGCOR-authorized domestic online gaming platform.

A person who merely encounters or reports a promotional post is not automatically liable. Whether the promoter, affiliate, influencer, payment collector, property owner, employee, or other participant has criminal or administrative liability depends on evidence of that person’s acts, knowledge, authority, and connection to the operation.

Common mistakes to avoid

Checking only the brand name instead of the exact domain
Assuming that a PAGCOR logo proves authorization
Assuming that every online gambling site is illegal without checking
Treating a foreign license as Philippine authority
Reporting only to the social-media platform
Sending screenshots without URLs, dates, account names, or context
Editing or deleting the original files
Placing a “test bet” or sending money to strengthen the report
Warning the suspected operator before authorities can assess the matter
Publicly accusing named people without verified evidence
Publishing bank details, identification documents, or private information
Expecting an email acknowledgment to mean that a criminal case has already been filed

When help is urgent

Call 911 or contact the nearest police station immediately if:

Someone is being threatened, assaulted, confined, or prevented from leaving
Children appear to be involved as players, promoters, workers, or targets
Workers may have been trafficked, coerced, or deprived of their documents
The operation is moving equipment, deleting accounts, or abandoning a site
You received a credible threat after asking questions or attempting a withdrawal
Your bank, e-wallet, email, or identity account is being actively used
A large or time-sensitive transfer is still pending

Prioritize safety. Do not enter the premises, arrange an entrapment, impersonate a bettor, or attempt to seize devices without instructions from law enforcement.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to prove that the platform is illegal?

No. Provide facts and ask PAGCOR or law enforcement to verify them. Do not present suspicion as an established finding.

Can I report anonymously?

An agency may act on a sufficiently detailed tip, but a formal investigation or complaint may require your identity, interview, sworn statement, and authentication of evidence. Do not assume anonymity or confidentiality; ask the receiving agency about its handling of your information before disclosing sensitive details.

Is an influencer liable merely for posting a gambling promotion?

Not necessarily. Liability depends on the content, authorization, compensation or referral arrangement, knowledge, intent, and actual role in the operation. Preserve the post and related referral or payment information and let PAGCOR and investigators assess it.

Is a licensed brand’s advertisement automatically lawful?

No. The exact platform and domain must be authorized, and the advertisement must comply with applicable PAGCOR and advertising requirements.

Is a foreign-based gambling website legal if it accepts Filipino players?

A foreign license does not by itself authorize the site to offer gambling in the Philippines. Ask PAGCOR to verify the platform before sending money or personal information.

Is there a deadline for reporting?

There is no single public-reporting deadline that applies to every gambling, regulatory, fraud, or cybercrime complaint. Report promptly. Legal prescriptive periods vary by possible offense, while platform logs, advertisements, payment trails, and account data may disappear much sooner.

Are screenshots enough?

They may support an initial report, but they may not be sufficient by themselves. Preserve URLs, original files, messages, transaction records, and the device used to capture them. Be prepared to explain how the evidence was obtained.

Can the authorities recover my deposit or winnings?

Recovery is not guaranteed. Contact the payment provider immediately and obtain legal advice if the amount is substantial. Regulatory or criminal reporting and a claim for recovery may involve different procedures.

Should I report a licensed operator’s refusal to pay?

First preserve the account terms, wager history, balance, withdrawal request, identity-verification exchanges, and operator complaint record. Report the matter to PAGCOR if the operator does not resolve it. Contact the PNP or NBI as well if there are concrete signs of fraud, identity theft, threats, or an unauthorized platform.

Official sources

This article provides general Philippine legal information, not legal advice or a prediction of how authorities will treat a particular report. Licensing status, procedures, and the applicable offenses depend on current official records and specific facts. Sources and procedures were checked as of 28 July 2026.