Where to Report Online Casino Scams in the Philippines A practitioner-oriented legal guide (updated June 2025)
1. Why reporting matters
Online gambling scams range from simple “deposit-but-no-withdrawal” schemes to sophisticated phishing operations that drain e-wallets in minutes. Under Philippine law, fraud committed through electronic systems is both estafa (Art. 315, Revised Penal Code) and computer-related fraud (sec. 6, R.A. 10175, Cybercrime Prevention Act 2012). Reporting triggers three parallel tracks:
| Track | Outcome | Key statutes |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative | Suspension or revocation of the operator’s licence, blacklisting of website/IPs | P.D. 1869 (PAGCOR Charter) as amended; PAGCOR e-Gaming & POGO regulations |
| Criminal | Arrest of perpetrators, asset freezing, prosecution | R.P.C. Art. 315; R.A. 10175; R.A. 9160 as amended by R.A. 10927 (AMLA) |
| Civil | Recovery of lost funds and damages | Art. 1170, Civil Code; Rule 3, Rules of Court |
2. Regulators and enforcement bodies you can approach
| Agency | Jurisdiction & typical use-case | How to file |
|---|---|---|
| PAGCOR — Compliance and Enforcement Department | Licensed Philippine e-casinos, electronic bingo, e-sabong; POGO license violations | Email ced@pagcor.ph, online form at pagcor.ph/report, or walk-in (Main Office, Malate, Manila). Attach screenshots, account ledger, chat logs, ID. |
| Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) | Scam websites or apps targeting Filipinos, regardless of licence; phishing, identity theft | Hotline (02) 8414-1560; e-mail acg@pnp.gov.ph; personally submit Sinumpaang Salaysay plus digital evidence at Camp Crame or any Regional Cybercrime Office. |
| National Bureau of Investigation – Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) | Larger syndicates, cross-border cases, asset-tracing | Apply for an NBI Complaint Sheet at Taft Ave., Manila; bring USB flash drive with evidence. |
| DICT – Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) | Coordinates takedown of malicious domains/IP addresses; digital forensics support | Online portal cicc.gov.ph/report or 24/7 hotline 1326. |
| Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) – Financial Consumer Protection Department | Unauthorized transfer from banks/e-wallets (GCash, Maya, etc.) linked to gambling scam | File Financial Consumer Assistance Form via consumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph within 30 days of transaction; BSP can order reimbursement under R.A. 11765 (Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, 2022). |
| Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – Enforcement and Investor Protection Department | “Casino-investment” or “play-to-earn” offerings that are de facto securities | Email epd@sec.gov.ph with marketing materials; SEC may issue cease-and-desist orders. |
| Local Office of the City Prosecutor | Filing criminal information for estafa/cyber-fraud once evidence is compiled | Submit verified complaint-affidavit, proof of identity, and evidence. |
Tip: For overseas-licensed platforms (e.g., Curaçao, Isle of Man) that accept Filipino players without a PAGCOR or POGO licence, report both to PAGCOR (as “illegal operator”) and to PNP-ACG/NBI for criminal action.
3. Step-by-step filing checklist
Preserve evidence immediately
- Take time-stamped screenshots or screen recordings of each step (login, wagers, failed withdrawal, error messages).
- Download full transaction history from the gambling site and from your bank/e-wallet.
- Secure e-mail/SMS records, social-media ads, referral links.
Draft a detailed Affidavit-Complaint (“Sinumpaang Salaysay”)
- Narrate chronology, amounts lost, and how you were induced.
- Attach every piece of evidence as annexes (label A-1, B-1, etc.).
- Have it notarised.
File with the appropriate body
- Administrative (PAGCOR) first if the operator claims to be licensed.
- Criminal (PNP-ACG/NBI) in parallel—there is no exhaustion rule.
Track reference numbers
- PAGCOR: CED-YYYY-####; PNP-ACG: ACG-BLCR-YYYY-####.
- Follow up in writing every 15 days; request Certificate of Action (COA) when available.
Consider civil recovery
- If assets are frozen under AMLA, file a claim with the AMLC-Seized Assets Secretariat.
- For amounts ≤ ₱1 million, you can use the Rules on Expedited Actions in the First Level Courts (expedited small money claims as of December 2022).
4. Applicable laws and penalties at a glance
| Offence | Statute | Penalty range |
|---|---|---|
| Estafa via fraudulent online casino | Art. 315, R.P.C. + Sec. 6, R.A. 10175 | Up to reclusión temporal (12 – 20 years) + fine up to double the fraud amount |
| Illegal gambling operation | P.D. 1602 as amended | ₱20,000 – ₱300,000 fine and/or 1 – 6 years; higher if repeat or syndicate |
| Money laundering of gambling proceeds | R.A. 9160, as amended by R.A. 10927 (casinos covered since 2017) | 4 – 7 years and ₱3 million – ₱5 million fine + asset forfeiture |
| Computer-related fraud/access device fraud | Sec. 5 & 6, R.A. 10175 | 6 – 12 years and/or fine up to ₱500,000 per act |
5. Cross-border and offshore considerations
- POGOs vs. offshore casinos. POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) are not allowed to offer bets to persons physically in the Philippines; doing so voids their licence and triggers PAGCOR sanctions.
- Jurisdictional limits. If the site is based abroad and unlicensed, Philippine law enforcement can seek Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) or INTERPOL purple notices—but recovery is slower.
- eConsumer.gov. For foreign operators, you may lodge an online fraud report with this U.S.-FTC & ICPEN portal; it feeds into cross-border task forces.
6. Ancillary complaint routes
| Scenario | Additional forum |
|---|---|
| Personal data harvested or leaked | National Privacy Commission – complaints@privacy.gov.ph |
| Unauthorised credit-card chargebacks | Card-issuing bank’s Dispute Resolution Unit → escalate to BSP if unresolved in 15 BD |
| Social-media advertising scams | Cybercrime Division, Department of Justice-OFBM (for takedown requests to Meta/TikTok) |
| Telecommunication phishing (SMS) | NTC – textscam@ntc.gov.ph; include IMEI & SMS screenshots |
7. Practical preventive measures
- Check the PAGCOR “List of Authorized Online Gaming Sites” before depositing.
- Do not click “agent” links circulating in Facebook groups or Telegram channels.
- Use a dedicated payment card with low limits for gambling.
- Enable e-wallet transaction alerts; BSP Circular 1160 (2022) guarantees real-time notification.
- Beware of “VIP rebate” or “deposit bonus” offers that require WhatsApp/WeChat support contacts—hallmarks of pig-butchering scams.
8. Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I get my money back through GCash/Maya? A: Under BSP rules, wallets must complete an investigation within 20 business days. If fraud is proven, they may credit back funds or freeze the scammer’s wallet for law-enforcement pickup.
Q: Do I need a lawyer? A: Not for the initial administrative or police report, but representation is advisable once the case moves to the prosecutor’s office or if you pursue civil damages. You may obtain free legal aid from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
Q: Does filing with PAGCOR bar me from filing criminal charges? A: No. Administrative and criminal proceedings are independent; double jeopardy applies only to criminal prosecutions.
Q: How long before PAGCOR acts? A: The Enforcement Department typically issues a Notice to Explain to the operator within 10 calendar days and may order provisional suspension within 30 days if consumer harm is ongoing.
9. Final thoughts
Online casino fraud is prosecuted in the Philippines under a layered framework that combines gambling regulation, cybercrime law, and financial-consumer protection. Document early, file promptly, and pursue both administrative and criminal remedies in parallel to maximise your chances of recovery and to help regulators purge rogue operators from the market. Because the factual nuances of each case matter, consult a qualified Philippine lawyer for bespoke advice.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.