Pagcor detects 276 illegal gambling sites, some linked to Pogo

Sen. Raffy Tulfo (Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 276 illegal gambling websites were discovered by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

Some of these platforms are connected to the now-outlawed Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo).

Retired Brig. Gen. Raul Villanueva, senior vice president of Pagcor’s security and monitoring cluster, revealed this information during the hearing of the Senate committee on games and amusement on Thursday.

“For 2025, we have 276 illegal websites. This includes e-sabong, online casino games and others. Some of these are connected to the Pogo,” Villanueva told lawmakers.

He further noted that of the 276 websites, 136 were already blocked by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

READ: Pogo sites near Philippine military bases likened to ‘Trojan horse’

“The illegal websites, we have forwarded it to NTC because they are very proactive,” Villanueva said.

However, this answer did not satisfy Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

“Mabagal. Bakit mabagal?” Tulfo said. “Dapat sabay-sabay silang naba-block lahat.”

(That’s slow. Why is it slow? It should all be simultaneously blocked at once).

Villanueva, however, said some internet service providers are not complying with the NTC order to block the websites.

Pagcor also noted that it has received more than 20 reports of Pogo sites continually operating.

“[We have received] some emails and complaints from concerned citizens—and we forwarded it to PAOCC (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission) already,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva said some of the “concerned citizens” even reported the “physical presence” of Pogo sites.

Tulfo said: “Yung mga complaints, naba-validate nyo na totoo naman?”

(Those complaints, are you able to validate them to be true?)

Villanueva responded, “Yung iba, Sir, talagang totoo.”

(Some of them, Sir, are really true).

READ: Pagcor: No licensed Pogo hubs next to military camps

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. already ordered the Pogo ban last year, giving operators until Dec. 31, 2024 to wrap up their businesses.

Prior to this, Pagcor said there were 42 internet gaming licensees or IGLs—which is the state-owned corporation’s term for Pogo—and 18 “authorized providers” registered in the country.

The corporation said all of them had their licenses canceled upon Marcos’ Pogo ban.