Here’s a practical, everything-you-need-to-know legal guide (Philippine context) for reporting an online casino to PAGCOR—who has jurisdiction, what conduct is illegal, where to file, what evidence to preserve, how takedowns and prosecutions happen, plus airtight complaint templates. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific facts.

1) Who regulates what (quick map)

PAGCOR – Charters, licenses, regulates, and enforces against gambling operators (land-based and authorized online). Handles licensing violations, illegal operations, underage access, responsible gaming breaches, and disputes with licensees.
POGO vs. local online gaming – Offshore operators (POGOs) are licensed to offer gaming outside the Philippines; they must not accept Philippine residents. Local online gaming (e.g., limited inland/remote gaming) requires explicit PAGCOR authority. Sites taking bets from the Philippines without the proper PAGCOR authorization are illegal.
Law enforcement – PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) and NBI Cybercrime Division investigate illegal gambling, fraud, human trafficking, kidnap-for-ransom, scams, identity theft, and computer crimes tied to gambling sites.
DICT/CICC & NTC – Coordinate domain/IP blocking and network disruption against illegal sites and SMS spam operations (with due process).
AMLC – Probes money laundering; e-wallets/banks file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) tied to gambling-linked laundering.
NPC (Data Privacy) – Complaints for privacy violations, data leaks, unlawful processing of user data.
BSP – Complaints vs. banks/e-money issuers used by illegal casinos (account freezing/closure, KYC breaches).

2) What to report (and how to spot illegality)

Report if you encounter any of the following:

Unlicensed operation – A site/app offers casino games to persons in the Philippines without clear PAGCOR authorization. (Tip: “Offshore”/“international” branding + accepting Philippine players = red flag.)
POGO accepting local players – Offshore-licensed sites targeting PH bettors (PH currency, local e-wallets, promos to Filipinos).
Underage gambling – Access by minors; weak/absent age checks.
Responsible gaming breaches – No self-exclusion tools, predatory bonuses, targeted ads to minors/at-risk users.
Fraud & non-payment – Refusal to pay legitimate winnings; rigged odds; chargeback fraud.
Criminal conduct – Sextortion, trafficking, forced work in scam hubs, doxxing, threats, ransomware; “investment” fronts that are actually gambling.
Payments evasion – Direction to deposit to mule accounts/personal e-wallets; rotating accounts to dodge scrutiny.
Data/privacy violations – Phishing, scraping contacts, selling player data.

3) Evidence: what to capture so the case sticks

Preserve before you report. Don’t tip off the operator.

Full URL(s) & app info – domain, subpages (registration, cashier), mirror links, app package name/installer details.
Date/time & IP – Take timestamped screenshots/recordings; if possible, include device time visible on screen.
Onboarding flow – Screens of sign-up, KYC (or lack of it), geographic access (no geoblocking), and terms.
Payment trail – Deposit/withdrawal screens, bank/e-wallet receipts, account names/numbers, transaction IDs, chat/email with support.
Marketing – SMS, social posts, emails, influencer promos; capture sender IDs and message headers if available.
Victim narrative – Brief chronology (what happened, when, loss amount, who you spoke to).
Technical – If you can, note domains, IPs, WHOIS summary, hosting/CDN hints (not required but helpful).
Witnesses – Names/contact of others similarly affected.

Store originals in a read-only folder. Do not alter metadata.

4) Where to file (multi-track is best)

You can (and often should) file in parallel:

A) PAGCOR (Regulatory & Enforcement)

Purpose: Licensing breaches, illegal operation, violations by licensees, player disputes with authorized sites.
What to submit: Identification, contact info, the evidence pack, loss amount (if any), and a concise narrative (see template).
Expect: Case logging, coordination with law enforcement, compliance directives, or referral for blocking/raids where warranted.

B) PNP-ACG / NBI Cybercrime

Purpose: Criminal investigation (illegal gambling, estafa, trafficking, cybercrimes).
What to submit: Your sworn complaint-affidavit with annexes (screenshots, receipts, chats).
Expect: Case evaluation, possible entrapment/forensics, inclusion in coordinated takedown.

C) DICT/CICC & NTC

Purpose: Blocking requests against domains/links, SIM/SMS spam action.
What to submit: URLs, message copies (with sender numbers), when/where received, and screenshots.

D) AMLC / Your Bank or E-Money Issuer

Purpose: Freeze/close mule accounts, trigger STRs, and prevent further losses.
What to submit: Transaction details, account numbers, dates, narrative of suspected laundering.

E) NPC (Data Privacy) (if applicable)

Purpose: Privacy breaches, unlawful processing, doxxing.
What to submit: Evidence of data misuse, copies of offending messages/pages.

If you’re an employee/insider (whistleblower), say so in your cover note. Provide documents safely. Avoid removing originals from your employer; provide copies and describe where originals are kept.

5) Player disputes vs. authorized operators

If the site is PAGCOR-licensed (authorized local online offering) and your issue is non-payment, bonus abuse allegation, identity verification, or cooling-off/self-exclusion problems:

Complain to the operator first in writing (keep ticket numbers).
Escalate to PAGCOR with your ticket trail, terms cited, and proof of compliance with KYC/bonus rules.
Request formal mediation; regulators often compel licensees to resolve/justify or face penalties.

6) Underage & vulnerable persons

Note the age, relationship, and how access occurred (shared device, school network, paid ads directed to them).
Ask for immediate account closure and refund of deposits made by minors (attach proof).
Seek self-exclusion or household IP/device blocks where available; report operators that lack these controls.

7) Money recovery: what’s realistic

Regulatory pressure can produce refunds from licensed sites.
For unlicensed/offshore sites, recovery is difficult; focus on chargebacks (if card rails), e-wallet disputes, and freezing beneficiary accounts via bank/E-money issuer and AMLC action.
Avoid “recovery agents” demanding fees—common scams.

8) Safety & retaliation

Use a new email and avoid exposing your main phone number in public forums.
If threatened, file a separate grave threats/cyberstalking complaint with PNP-ACG/NBI; keep all messages.
If you are staff coerced into illegal work, seek immediate help from law enforcement; trafficking/forced labor protections may apply.

9) Templates you can use today

A) PAGCOR Complaint (email/letter body)

Subject: Illegal Online Casino / Regulatory Complaint – [Site/App Name + URL] Complainant: [Full Name, Mobile, Email, City/Province] Summary: I report [Site/App] for [unlicensed operation/accepting PH bettors/underage access/non-payment/responsible gaming breach]. Details: – First seen: [Date/Time] | Used from [City/Province] – Access method: [web/app], URLs: [list] – Payments: [bank/e-wallet/provider], txn IDs: [list], amounts: [₱] – Incident: [chronology in 5–8 lines] – Current status: [account locked/unpaid/continuing ads] Attachments: Screenshots (sign-up, cashier, chats), receipts, marketing, my ID (if required). Request: Investigate, halt local access, sanction operator, coordinate with law enforcement, and (if licensed) mediate my dispute for payment. Declaration: I certify these facts are true and consent to verification.

B) Sworn Complaint-Affidavit (for PNP-ACG/NBI)

I, [Name], of legal age, [address], after being duly sworn, depose:

On [dates], I accessed [URL/app] which offers casino games to persons in the Philippines.

I registered using [email/number]; age/geo checks were [absent/weak].

I deposited ₱[amount] via [bank/e-wallet], txn IDs [list].

On [date], winnings of ₱[amount] were [withheld/denied]; support stated [reason/none].

The site continues to solicit Philippine players [ads/SMS]. Attached are Annex “A” (screenshots/recordings), “B” (receipts), “C” (chats/emails), “D” (ads/SMS). Prayer: File appropriate charges for [Illegal Gambling, Estafa, Cybercrime violations], and coordinate blocking/takedown and freezing of recipient accounts. [Signature over Printed Name] Jurat: Subscribed and sworn… [Notary/Prosecutor].

C) Bank/E-Money Dispute Notice

I request investigation and chargeback/account freeze regarding payments to [merchant/beneficiary name/number] tied to an illegal online casino. Transactions: [IDs/dates/amounts]. Attached: screenshots, URLs, chat. Please treat this as a fraud/illegal gambling report and file/consider an STR where applicable.

10) Checklists

Before filing

☐ Screenshots/video of site/app flows
☐ Payment receipts/txn IDs, beneficiary details
☐ Copies of ads/SMS/emails
☐ Short timeline & loss summary
☐ Your valid ID (for sworn complaints)

Where to file (sequence)

☐ PAGCOR (regulatory & mediation)
☐ PNP-ACG/NBI (criminal)
☐ DICT/CICC/NTC (blocking)
☐ Bank/e-wallet + AMLC (money trail)
☐ NPC (privacy), if applicable

After filing

☐ Keep case/reference numbers
☐ Stop further deposits; warn household members
☐ Save new evidence that appears (more ads, new domains)
☐ Cooperate with follow-ups; don’t engage the operator

11) FAQs

Q: Is it illegal to play on unlicensed sites? Yes—participation can expose you to penalties, and you have no regulatory recourse against unlicensed operators. Stop and report.

Q: The site says “licensed offshore.” Is that okay? Not if it accepts players in the Philippines. Offshore licenses generally forbid targeting PH residents.

Q: Can PAGCOR force a refund? With licensed operators, PAGCOR can pressure and sanction. With unlicensed/offshore sites, recovery is uncertain; focus on bank/e-wallet disputes and criminal complaints.

Q: Should I hire a “recovery agent”? No. That is a common secondary scam.

Q: Can minors be refunded? Often yes, especially where access controls failed. Document age proof and deposits, then report.

12) Key takeaways

Report in parallel: PAGCOR (regulatory), ACG/NBI (criminal), DICT/CICC & NTC (blocking), AMLC/BSP rails (money trail).
Evidence wins: URLs, payments, chats, ads, and a tight timeline.
Licensed vs. unlicensed matters for remedies; don’t feed illegal sites.
Protect yourself (new email/number), and never pay “recovery fees.”

If you tell me whether you’re a player, parent, bank officer, or insider/whistleblower, I’ll tailor a short action plan and fill the templates with your facts—ready to file today.