PAGCOR Targets December Launch for Mobile App Verifying Licensed Online Gambling Platforms
PAGCOR targets a December launch of a mobile app for verifying licensed online gambling sites, following board approval on October 8 and a no-cost partnership with DCI. A six-month proof-of-concept assessment will precede full rollout. The initiative responds to visibility gaps created by last year’s e-wallet delinking directive.
SCCG Take — The verification app corrects shortcomings of prior delinking measures. Regulators and operators should track its uptake as a model for affirmative player-protection tools.
Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR is targeting a December launch for a new mobile app that lets players identify licensed online gaming platforms and avoid illegal sites.
The regulator had previously indicated a fourth-quarter rollout following disclosures at September’s IAG EXPO in Manila. Information released Monday confirms the December target and positions the app as a tool to strengthen public protection from unlicensed operators.
Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO, said: “This platform will give players a reliable way to verify which online gaming platforms are licensed by PAGCOR. We want the public to make informed choices and avoid falling prey to illegal operators.”
PAGCOR’s Board of Directors approved the app’s development and implementation on 8 October. The approval encompasses a partnership with Development Bank of the Philippines Data Center, Inc (DCI). DCI will develop, host, operate, maintain and support the platform at no cost to PAGCOR, subject to applicable laws.
Partnership and Evaluation Requirements
DCI must first deliver a proof of concept for the minimum viable product. PAGCOR will then perform a six-month assessment that reviews proposed features, system architecture, security controls and overall feasibility. The regulator retains the right to terminate the arrangement if deficiencies are not corrected within a reasonable time.
All aspects must comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, cybersecurity rules and information security standards. Data-sharing terms will be addressed in the agreement or a separate document.
Coordination and Recent Context
PAGCOR is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center to intensify measures against illegal online gambling operators. The app launch follows last year’s central bank order requiring e-wallet providers to delink from online gambling platforms. That step was intended to bolster player protections but has been criticized for reducing visibility of licensed sites, as reported by Inside Asian Gaming.
Reporting: Inside Asian Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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