Verifying PAGCOR Accreditation for Online Casinos in the Philippines

A comprehensive legal guide (updated to August 2025)

1. Why Verification Matters

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is both regulator and, in the land-based space, operator of gaming in the Philippines. Any party—whether player, investor, service provider, payment processor or affiliate—who deals with an online-casino brand that falsely claims PAGCOR accreditation risks:

Criminal exposure under Presidential Decree 1602 (Illegal Gambling) as amended, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) and EO 13 (2017) which intensified enforcement against unlicensed online gambling.
Civil liability for breach of contract or consumer fraud.
Regulatory sanctions such as blacklisting, loss of visas for foreign personnel, and seizure of gaming equipment.

Robust verification is therefore a core compliance requirement under Republic Act 9160 (AMLA) and under the PAGCOR Rules on Accredited Service Providers & Internet Gaming Licensees (latest consolidated version, March 2025).

2. Legal Foundations of PAGCOR’s Licensing Power

Instrument	Key Content	Relevance to Online Casinos
PD 1869 (1983), as amended	Grants PAGCOR the franchise to establish, operate and regulate games of chance.	Basis for all licensure.
RA 9487 (2007)	Extends PAGCOR’s franchise to 2032 and expressly allows “interactive and internet-based games.”	Legalizes online accreditation.
EO 13 (2017)	Directs law-enforcement to suppress illegal online gambling; recognizes only PAGCOR and CEZA as internet-gaming regulators.	Narrows “legitimate accreditation” to PAGCOR.
PAGCOR Internet Gaming Licensing Regulations (IGLR) 2021, amend. 2023 & 2025	Creates two main online licences: IGL-Domestic (local players) and IGL-Offshore (foreign-facing, successor to “POGO”).	Establishes application, audit, AML, technical & renewal rules.

3. Kinds of PAGCOR Accreditation to Check

Internet Gaming Licensee (IGL)
- IGL-Domestic – may accept Philippine-based players; subject to 5% GGR tax and 1% PAGCOR regulatory fee.
- IGL-Offshore – may not accept local wagers; pays US $200 000 fixed annual fee plus 2% GGR share.
Accredited Service Provider (ASP)
- B2B vendors—platform hosts, RNG labs, payment gateways, customer support hubs.
- Must maintain ISO/IEC 27001 certification or equivalent.
Gaming Supplier Certificate (GSC)
- Manufacturers or distributors of software and gaming equipment.
Key Gaming Employee (KGE) Licence
- Individual fit-and-proper clearance for directors, compliance officers, engineers, AML officers.

4. Core Accreditation Requirements (Snapshot, 2025)

Requirement	IGL-Domestic	IGL-Offshore	ASP	Legal Source
Paid-up capital	₱100 million	US $1 million	₱25 million	IGLR §4
Server location	Within Philippine territory	Within approved Data Center Zone (Manila, Clark, Cebu)	N/A	IGLR §7
RNG & Game Testing	GLI/BMM certification, renewed biennially	Same	Same	IGLR §11; Tech Std 2024
AML/CFT program	Covered Person under AMLA; submit CTRs, STRs, KYC manual	Same	Covered if handling funds	AMLA Regs 2023
Taxes & fees	5% GGR tax + 1% regulatory fee	2% GGR share + annual fee	0.5% of gross vendor revenue	BIR RMC 102-2023; PAGCOR Fin-Circ 2025-01

5. How to Verify a PAGCOR Licence—Step-by-Step

Tip: Treat verification like KYC—document each step for audit.

5.1 Locate the Official Licence List

PAGCOR e-Services Portal → “Gaming Licensees & Service Providers.”
Select the Internet Gaming tab; lists are grouped by IGL-Domestic, IGL-Offshore, ASP, GSC, and KGE.
Each entry shows: licence number, corporate name, trade name, issuance date, expiry, status (Active/Suspended/Cancelled).

5.2 Validate the Digital Certificate

Since October 2024 all e-certificates embed a dynamic QR code.
Scan → redirects to a hash-secured PAGCOR page displaying real-time status.
Mismatch or “Page Not Found” = likely forgery or revoked licence.

5.3 Cross-Check Corporate Registration

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Verify Articles of Incorporation reflect gaming purpose.
BIR: For IGL-Domestic, confirm valid Gaming Tax Identification Number (G-TIN).
PEZA/CEZA/AFAB (if offshore hub): ensure locator status is active.

5.4 Confirm Technical & AML Compliance

Require the operator to provide latest GLI/BMM/GameCare audit reports (must bear PAGCOR approval stamp).
Ask for AMLA Compliance Certificate of Registration (COR) and proof of recent CTR filings (redacted).

5.5 Check for Enforcement Actions

PAGCOR Enforcement & Licensing Department (ELD) publishes monthly bulletins of suspensions, fines or consent decrees.
Ask for a Letter of No Pending Case (LNPC) signed by the ELD; routinely requested by banks and landlords.

6. Common Red Flags

Red Flag	Typical Indicator	Risk
Fake certificate layout	Missing embossed PAGCOR seal, blurred QR, wrong font sizes	Fraudulent, no regulatory recourse
“Curacao-PAGCOR-Hybrid” claim	Advertising dual licensing	PAGCOR does not recognise piggy-back licences
Server located outside the Philippines for IGL-Domestic	Whois lookup shows non-local IP	Data-localisation breach; licence faces revocation
Holds “POGO” licence issued after June 2023	PAGCOR stopped issuing POGO certificates after rebrand to IGL-Offshore	Potentially expired/licence not renewed
Uses “.ph” mirror site while primary domain is blocked by DICT	Evasion of NTC blocking order	Indicative of suspension

7. Penalties for Unlicensed Operation

Criminal:
- 6–12 years imprisonment and up to ₱10 million fine (PD 1602, Cybercrime Act).
Administrative:
- Cease-and-Desist Order, blacklisting of directors, asset freeze.
Tax:
- Assessment of 50% deficiency surcharge plus 12% interest (NIRC).

8. Liability of Facilitators

Even if you are not the gaming operator, Philippine law imposes liability on:

Payment gateways—under BSP Circular 1108 (2021) must ensure merchant gaming licence before onboarding.
ISPs & data centres—National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) can impose ₱200 000 per day fine for hosting illegal gambling content.
Marketing affiliates—may be prosecuted as principals under Art. 17, Revised Penal Code if they knowingly promote unlicensed games.

9. Consumer Remedies & Dispute Resolution

PAGCOR 24/7 Complaints Hotline (8588-00-PAGCOR).
Email: igaming.complaints@pagcor.ph – provide screenshot, transaction ID, operator name.
Within 15 days PAGCOR may direct the licensee to refund or mediate.
If unresolved, players may file civil action or seek criminal prosecution.

10. Future Outlook (2025-2032)

House Bill 8326 / Senate Bill 1906 (pending second reading) propose to separate PAGCOR’s regulatory arm into the Philippine Gaming Commission (PGC); licensing functions will migrate once enacted.
Digital Peso Sandbox: BSP and PAGCOR joint circular (May 2025) allows IGL-Domestic licensees to pilot CBDC settlement—additional compliance layer.
ASEAN Mutual Recognition: Draft 2024 ASEAN Gaming Regulatory Framework may enable cross-verification among member-state regulators, streamlining due diligence for offshore operators.

11. Practical Verification Checklist

✔︎	Action
□	Confirm operator appears in PAGCOR portal with Active status.
□	Scan QR on digital certificate; capture screenshot of validation page.
□	Match corporate name, address and TIN with SEC & BIR databases.
□	Obtain copies of latest RNG/game audit and AMLA COR.
□	Search PAGCOR ELD bulletin for pending cases; request LNPC.
□	Validate server geolocation (ping test / IP-WHOIS).
□	For payments, confirm BSP-licensed EMI/bank relationship.

12. Conclusion

PAGCOR accreditation is more than a marketing label—it is the legal linchpin that demarcates lawful interactive gaming from criminal gambling under Philippine law. Verifying accreditation involves document inspection, database cross-checks, technical validation, and regulatory liaison. With impending reforms that will likely split PAGCOR’s regulatory and commercial roles, maintaining a rigorous verification protocol will remain essential for compliance, consumer protection, and risk mitigation in the Philippine online-casino ecosystem.