PAGCOR’s updated approach to enforcing compliance in the Philippines’ gaming market is now increasingly focused on suppliers.
According to the law firm Arden Consult, in a LinkedIn post, the regulator has shifted from implementing policies to actively monitoring and verifying compliance.
In April, PAGCOR announced plans to introduce a regulatory framework for accrediting affiliates and support service providers in the gaming industry. Under this framework, all companies involved in online gaming—including game aggregators, content providers, payment service providers, and KYC providers—will be required to undergo formal accreditation.
The deadline for accreditation is set for March 31, 2026. However, as noted by Arden, as early as January, PAGCOR directed operators to submit a list of their B2B partners, which was then cross-checked with the regulator’s records.
The firm explained: “The practical consequences of this approach is that operators are now acting as frontline compliance filters. Even suppliers that are not directly subject to regulatory inquiry may encounter commercial disruption if their operator partners cannot demonstrate that all vendors in their ecosystem satisfy PAGCOR’s accreditation requirements.”
If unaccredited suppliers are identified, operators may be instructed to stop using their services, including through the issuance of cease-and-desist orders.
Introducing mandatory accreditation for suppliers is part of PAGCOR’s broader policy to strengthen oversight of online gambling in the Philippines and combat the unlicensed sector.
Commenting on the new requirements, Keith McDonnell of KMI Group described the measures as a “natural progression” for the regulator.
According to him, this is the next step for PAGCOR to ensure end-to-end oversight of the entire online gaming ecosystem in the country and prevent the infiltration of “bad actors,” which the regulator has been combating since the start of the reforms.
Among the initiatives currently under consideration by PAGCOR is the potential introduction of a complete ban on gambling advertising.
The regulator has already restricted television and radio ads during primetime from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. However, PAGCOR’s Chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco indicated that a full ban could also be implemented.
There has also been increased focus on combating influencer marketing that negatively impacts the country’s gaming ecosystem and hinders the promotion of safer gambling practices.
During a recent press briefing, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre (CICC) reported that ten influencers are under suspicion, including Perkz Gaming, Jam Magno, Vic Desucatan, and Wampipti. This followed PAGCOR issuing warnings to a group of 30 influencers just a few months earlier.
At the same time, the new strategy raises questions about how effectively it will address the black market. The focus on suppliers may signal a new approach that could potentially draw the attention of other major global regulators.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
