Quick answer

You may report suspected illegal online gambling, gambling advertisements, affiliate promotions, livestreamed betting, online raffles, or offshore gaming operations to:

PAGCOR, to verify whether the operator is licensed and to report an unauthorized site, misleading claim of accreditation, or violation by a licensed operator;
the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) or the nearest police station, when the activity appears criminal or is happening now;
the NBI Cybercrime Division or an NBI regional or district office, particularly when the operation involves websites, social-media accounts, electronic payments, fraud, or operators in several locations; and
the social-media platform, app store, hosting provider, or advertising network, to request preservation and removal of the content.

Before reporting, preserve the exact URL, account name, screenshots, screen recordings, advertisements, referral codes, payment instructions, transaction records, and dates and times observed. Do not send more money, warn the suspected operators, impersonate a bettor, or attempt to access private accounts or systems.

Not every gambling advertisement proves that the underlying operation is illegal. PAGCOR licenses certain domestic electronic-gaming activities, while offshore gaming operations conducted from the Philippines are prohibited. Verification should therefore come before making a public accusation.

What conduct should be reported?

Consider reporting content or operations that involve any of the following:

a casino, sportsbook, bingo game, raffle, lottery, card game, numbers game, or similar wagering activity that cannot be verified as authorized;
a website claiming to be “PAGCOR licensed” while using a false certificate, copied seal, fabricated QR code, or unauthorized PAGCOR logo;
a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator or “POGO” that continues operating, recruiting, marketing, providing technical support, or accepting bets;
social-media pages or livestreams selling paid raffle entries or accepting bets without apparent authority;
promoters, influencers, agents, or affiliates distributing referral links for an apparently illegal platform;
advertisements aimed at minors or content using schools, children, youth-oriented personalities, or misleading promises of guaranteed income;
unauthorized outdoor gambling advertisements or branded promotions released without required screening;
requests to deposit into personal bank or e-wallet accounts, especially where account names frequently change;
refusal to release winnings unless the player pays a supposed tax, verification fee, unlock charge, or additional deposit;
collection of identity documents or facial-verification data through a suspicious gambling site;
threats, harassment, identity theft, trafficking, detention, or forced work connected with an online gaming operation; or
use of Philippine offices, residences, computers, payment channels, workers, or digital infrastructure to serve offshore bettors.

A suspicious advertisement may support an investigation even if it does not itself show every element of a criminal offense. Report what you actually observed and allow regulators and investigators to determine the proper classification.

Verify whether the platform is authorized

PAGCOR maintains the PAGCOR Guarantee facility for checking recognized online gaming providers. Use the official PAGCOR website rather than a verification link supplied by the operator.

When checking a platform:

Compare the exact domain name—not merely the brand name—with the official listing.
Check spelling, subdomains, redirects, and mobile download links.
Do not assume that displaying the PAGCOR logo establishes authority.
Treat a certificate shown only on the operator’s website as unverified.
Check whether the deposit recipient and customer-service channels correspond to the verified operator.
Save the verification result, including the date and exact page consulted.

A criminal group may copy the name and branding of a legitimate licensee. Conversely, an advertisement for a verified operator can still violate advertising, responsible-gaming, consumer-protection, or licensing rules.

PAGCOR has specifically warned that fraudulent sites have used its logo and fabricated certificates to appear legitimate. It has also stated that former offshore gaming licensees and service providers continuing to operate are illegal. See PAGCOR’s warning on illegal offshore gaming sites and its guidance on fake online gaming sites.

The principal laws involved

Illegal or unauthorized gambling

Presidential Decree No. 1602 penalizes participation in specified illegal or unauthorized gambling activities and other wagering schemes, whether based on chance or skill. Its coverage includes persons who maintain or conduct an unlawful scheme and those who knowingly allow a place under their control to be used for it.

For illegal numbers games such as jueteng, masiao, “last two,” and their variants, Republic Act No. 9287 provides distinct offenses and penalties for bettors, staff, collectors, coordinators, operators, financiers, and protectors or coddlers.

The precise offense depends on the game, the existence or absence of authority, and the person’s actual role. Operating a betting platform, processing payments, soliciting bets, supplying essential technical services, and merely encountering or discussing an advertisement are not legally identical acts.

Offshore gaming is prohibited

Republic Act No. 12312, the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, bans offshore gaming operations conducted in the Philippines. It prohibits, among other acts:

establishing, operating, or conducting offshore gaming;
accepting bets for offshore gaming;
acting as a POGO content or service provider;
creating or operating a POGO hub or site;
using or possessing POGO equipment or paraphernalia; and
knowingly aiding, protecting, or abetting prohibited operations.

The law expressly reaches certain forms of assistance, including allowing buildings, vehicles, computer systems, hardware, digital platforms, or applications to be used for prohibited offshore gaming. It also permanently revoked prior POGO-related licenses and removed government agencies’ authority to issue new offshore gaming licenses.

The Act does not prohibit every domestically offered online game merely because it is accessed through the internet. Its offshore-gaming prohibition concerns operations in the Philippines catering to offshore players. Other unauthorized domestic gambling remains subject to the applicable gambling and regulatory laws.

Offenses committed through information technology

Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 applies when an offense defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code or a special law is committed through information and communications technology. Whether this provision applies, and its effect on the penalty, must be evaluated from the particular offense and evidence; the use of social media alone should not be treated as an automatic conclusion of guilt.

Separate charges may be considered when the operation also involves online fraud, identity misuse, unlawful access, falsified documents, trafficking, threats, or money laundering.

Is promoting online gambling itself illegal?

It can be, but context matters.

A person who knowingly solicits bets, recruits players, supplies referral codes, manages gambling accounts, receives commissions tied to wagering, processes payments, or otherwise assists an unauthorized operation may face greater legal exposure than someone who passively shares content without knowing what it is.

For a promotion-related criminal complaint, useful questions include:

Was the gambling operation unauthorized?
Did the promoter know what the link or platform was?
Did the person merely mention the site, or actively recruit and guide bettors?
Was compensation or an affiliate commission received?
Did the promoter collect deposits, provide account credentials, or resolve payment problems?
Was the content repeatedly published despite warnings or takedowns?
Did the promotion serve a prohibited offshore operation?
Were minors or vulnerable persons deliberately targeted?

Do not publicly label a promoter a criminal solely because an advertisement appeared on the person’s account. Accounts can be compromised, content can be inserted by third parties, and lawful operators may advertise subject to regulation. Submit the evidence and describe the conduct neutrally.

Rules for advertisements by licensed operators

Licensed status does not give an operator unrestricted freedom to advertise.

Under the PAGCOR–Ad Standards Council arrangement announced in July 2025, branded or corporate gambling advertisements across television, radio, online, and outdoor media became subject to prior review by the Ad Standards Council. PAGCOR also directed the dismantling of gambling billboards and other out-of-home promotions. Official details are available in PAGCOR’s releases on pre-screening gambling advertisements and the takedown of gambling billboards.

PAGCOR’s current regulatory framework and the specific approval status of an advertisement should be confirmed with PAGCOR or the Ad Standards Council. A regulatory violation by a licensee is different from operating an entirely illegal gambling business, although the same evidence may justify reports to both the regulator and law enforcement.

Where and how to report

1. Report the operator or advertisement to PAGCOR

A PAGCOR report is appropriate when you need to:

verify a claimed license;
identify a fake or cloned gambling site;
report an unauthorized online game or raffle;
report a former POGO or offshore gaming service provider;
complain about a licensed operator’s advertising, payment, or responsible-gaming conduct; or
provide information that may help PAGCOR coordinate blocking or enforcement.

Use PAGCOR’s official website and current contact directory. Because departmental addresses and reporting arrangements can change, verify the destination on the official site before sending sensitive evidence. Clearly label the report “Suspected Illegal Online Gambling” or “Suspected Unauthorized Gambling Promotion.”

PAGCOR is a regulator, not a substitute for emergency police assistance. If an operation is active, victims are being held or threatened, or evidence may disappear immediately, contact law enforcement as well.

2. Report cyber-enabled operations to the PNP

You may approach the nearest police station or a PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group office. Bring the original device when investigators need to inspect messages or transaction records, but first make a backup and do not delete the content.

The PNP’s official cybercrime-reporting procedures contemplate the reporting, recording, monitoring, and disposition of cybercrime and cyber-related incidents. The current PNP-ACG office directory and contact channels should be verified through the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group website.

For an operation happening in real time, explain immediately:

whether betting or livestreaming is currently underway;
whether money is being collected now;
whether the suspects’ physical location is known;
whether anyone is being threatened, confined, or forced to work; and
whether the operators appear about to transfer funds, close the account, or leave the location.

Do not attempt to arrange an entrapment operation yourself. Controlled payments, undercover communications, arrests, searches, and seizures require lawful coordination.

3. File with the NBI

The NBI accepts reports involving computer-enabled offenses and fraud. Its website provides an online complaint facility and information on investigative assistance for victims of computer crimes.

You may also approach the Cybercrime Division or the appropriate office listed in the NBI’s regional and district office directory.

An online submission can begin the process, but investigators may require a personal appearance, sworn statement, original records, device examination, or additional documents. Save the reference number and follow any official instructions you receive.

4. Report the post to the platform

Use the platform’s reporting tools for categories such as:

illegal or regulated goods and services;
gambling;
fraud or scam;
impersonation;
false advertising; or
child safety.

Report the individual post, advertisement, page, account, group, livestream, and destination link when the platform permits separate reports. Ask that relevant records be preserved for law-enforcement purposes if a formal channel exists.

Platform reporting can remove public content quickly, but it does not replace a government complaint. Preserve the evidence before requesting removal.

5. Notify the bank or e-wallet if money was transferred

If you paid the operator or were defrauded:

Contact the bank or e-wallet through its official fraud channel immediately.
Ask it to flag the transaction and receiving account.
Request a case or reference number.
Preserve the transfer receipt, recipient details, and correspondence.
File a police or NBI report and provide the reference when requested.

A report does not guarantee reversal. Speed matters because funds may be transferred through several accounts shortly after receipt.

What evidence should you preserve?

Create a chronological evidence folder containing:

the full website address and each redirect;
screenshots showing the phone or computer’s date and time;
a screen recording from the advertisement through the destination page;
the page, profile, group, channel, or account name and unique identifier;
the advertiser’s display name and account URL;
the exact wording of gambling claims and promotions;
referral, agent, affiliate, invitation, or bonus codes;
dates and times each advertisement appeared;
usernames, phone numbers, email addresses, and messaging handles;
QR codes, bank accounts, e-wallet numbers, cryptocurrency addresses, and recipient names;
deposit and withdrawal instructions;
transaction receipts and account statements;
chats with agents, customer service, promoters, or recruiters;
claimed licenses, certificates, seals, and regulator links;
videos of livestreamed draws or games;
names and contact details of witnesses;
employment advertisements, contracts, office addresses, and recruitment messages connected with a suspected POGO; and
the report acknowledgments or ticket numbers issued by every agency and platform.

Keep original files. Do not crop the only copy, overwrite metadata, add annotations to the original screenshot, or forward files repeatedly through applications that compress them. Make a separate working copy for highlighting.

If possible, prepare a simple table stating the date, event, account involved, amount, file name, and why the item matters. This helps investigators understand a large set of digital evidence.

A practical complaint outline

Your report may follow this structure:

Your details: name and reliable contact information, unless the chosen channel permits an intelligence report without identification.
Subject: operator, company, page, account, promoter, or persons involved.
What happened: a factual description of the game, promotion, payment method, and conduct observed.
When and where: dates, times, website addresses, platform names, and any known physical location.
Why it appears unauthorized: failed PAGCOR verification, false license, offshore customers, use of personal payment accounts, or other objective indicators.
Persons affected: bettors, minors, employees, trafficking victims, or other witnesses.
Money involved: amounts, dates, transaction references, and recipients.
Evidence attached: numbered list of screenshots, recordings, messages, and records.
Urgency: active livestream, continuing solicitation, threatened victim, planned relocation, or risk that funds or evidence will disappear.
Requested action: verification, investigation, preservation, takedown, or referral to the proper unit.

Use phrases such as “suspected,” “appears,” and “I observed” when the conclusion has not been officially established. Separate firsthand facts from information given by another person.

If you want to remain confidential

You may initially ask an agency whether it accepts confidential information or an intelligence lead. However, anonymity can limit follow-up, authentication of evidence, and prosecution. A complainant with firsthand knowledge may later be asked to execute an affidavit or testify.

Do not assume that sending from a new email address guarantees anonymity. Digital records, attachments, and screenshots may contain identifying information. If disclosure may expose you to retaliation—particularly when organized crime, trafficking, public officials, or an employer is involved—consult a lawyer or speak directly with the investigating agency about protective measures before submitting identifying material.

The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act may become relevant to a qualified witness in a serious prosecution, but protection is not automatic merely because a report was submitted.

Common mistakes to avoid

Accusing someone publicly before verification. This can expose the reporter to a defamation dispute and alert the suspected operators.
Reporting only the brand name. Investigators need exact URLs, account identifiers, payment details, and dates.
Assuming a PAGCOR logo proves legality. Logos and certificates can be copied.
Deleting chats after taking screenshots. Preserve the original conversation and device.
Sending additional deposits to “unlock” winnings. This often increases the loss.
Entering a suspicious site merely to investigate. It may collect credentials, identity documents, or financial information.
Trying to hack, trace, or expose the operators. Unauthorized access and doxxing can create separate legal problems.
Organizing a private entrapment. Coordinate any controlled transaction with investigators.
Submitting altered evidence without keeping the original. Cropped or edited images may be challenged or lose context.
Giving investigators conclusions instead of facts. Explain exactly what was seen, paid, received, or said.
Waiting for the post to disappear. Preserve and report promptly; accounts and transaction trails can change quickly.
Treating platform removal as the end of the case. Removal does not investigate the operators or recover funds.

When help is urgent

Contact law enforcement immediately if:

anyone is being detained, assaulted, threatened, trafficked, or forced to work;
minors are being recruited, allowed to gamble, or used in promotions;
a livestreamed illegal game or active collection of bets is underway;
suspects are preparing to abandon an office or transfer equipment;
substantial funds are being moved through bank, e-wallet, or cryptocurrency accounts;
the operators possess weapons or appear connected with organized crime;
your identity has been stolen or accounts have been compromised;
you have been threatened after questioning or reporting the operation; or
a person affected by gambling is at risk of self-harm or harming another person.

For a gambling-related behavioral crisis, PAGCOR’s 24/7 National Problem Gambling Helpline is (02) 8248-9568, as stated in PAGCOR’s official helpline announcement. For immediate danger, contact emergency services or the nearest police station.

Frequently asked questions

Can I report an advertisement even if I did not place a bet?

Yes. An eyewitness to a promotion or suspected operation may provide information and preserved content. State clearly that you did not transact and identify which facts came only from the public advertisement.

Is every online gambling site illegal in the Philippines?

No. Certain domestic electronic-gaming activities may operate under PAGCOR authority. The exact domain and operator should be checked through official PAGCOR resources. Offshore gaming operations conducted in the Philippines, however, are prohibited under the Anti-POGO Act of 2025.

Is an online raffle illegal?

A paid online raffle involving chance and prizes may constitute gambling unless supported by lawful authority. The label “raffle,” “community game,” “donation,” or “fundraiser” does not by itself make the activity lawful. Report its mechanics, ticket price, prizes, payment accounts, and draw procedure for proper evaluation.

Can an influencer be liable for sharing a gambling link?

Potential liability depends on the legality of the operation, the influencer’s knowledge and intent, and the extent of participation. Repeated solicitation, commissions, referral codes, collection of bets, payment assistance, or services supplied to a prohibited operation may be significant. A single appearance of content does not, by itself, establish every element of an offense.

Should I report a licensed operator’s misleading advertisement?

Yes. Report it to PAGCOR and, where appropriate, the Ad Standards Council and the platform carrying the advertisement. Include the exact ad, publication date, medium, and reason it appears misleading or improperly targeted.

Can I recover money lost to an illegal gambling site?

Recovery is not guaranteed. Notify the payment provider immediately and report fraud, unauthorized transactions, false representations, or withheld funds to law enforcement. Ordinary gambling losses are legally different from money obtained through fraud, account takeover, or unauthorized transfers.

Will the account or website be taken down immediately?

Not necessarily. The agency or platform may need to verify the report, preserve records, determine jurisdiction, or coordinate with service providers. Keep the acknowledgment number and send material updates without flooding the same channel with duplicate reports.

Do I need a lawyer to make a report?

No. A person may report suspected illegal activity directly. Legal assistance becomes especially useful when the reporter participated in the operation, faces retaliation, suffered a substantial loss, possesses sensitive inside information, or may need to execute an affidavit and pursue criminal or civil remedies.

This article provides general Philippine legal information, not legal advice for a particular case. Licensing status, agency channels, regulations, and the legal characterization of promotional conduct depend on current official records and specific facts. Sources and procedures were checked as of August 25, 2026.