PAGCOR plans to launch a mobile app in December 2026 that lets players tell licensed online platforms apart from illegal sites. Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said it will give the public a reliable way to verify a PAGCOR licence.
The PAGCOR board approved development and rollout on 8 October. Development Bank of the Philippines Data Center, Inc. (DCI) will act as partner and handle development, hosting, operation, maintenance and technical support at no cost to PAGCOR. DCI must first submit a proof of concept for a minimum viable product. Review will take six months. It will cover functionality, system architecture, safeguards and feasibility. If DCI fails to address comments in reasonable time, PAGCOR can end the deal. The partnership runs for five years and can be extended by written consent of the parties.
The agreement requires compliance with data privacy, cybersecurity and information security laws, including the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Those terms will sit in the contract or in a separate agreement. Coordination is already under way. PAGCOR is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to step up action against illegal operators.
For affiliates and operators, the app sets a public reference for choosing a site. Licensed operators can state that status in creatives and landing pages. Unlicensed sites face a quick check.
