PAGCOR has issued a bleak warning to the public against offers being made by operators with fake offshore gaming licences.
The Philippines’ regulatory body claims that the Lucky 7 Bingo Corporation, which holds a legitimate E-Games venue licence, has been engaging in contact agreements with individuals under the guise of offering “guidance and support to potentially earn Php50,000 (£670.50) through the Lucky 7 Bet Lottery Platform”.
As part of the bogus agreement, bettors are reportedly required to make an upfront initial cash deposit of Php3,000 (£40).
PAGCOR confirmed that the licence referenced in these agreements is a fake offshore gaming licence, given that all offshore gaming operations, known as POGOs, have been banned in the Philippines since the end of 2024.
Atty Jessa Fernandez, Head of PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming and Licensing Department, warned: “We urge the public to remain vigilant and always verify the legitimacy of a PAGCOR-licensed gaming entity before entering into any agreements or making any form of payment.
“The license presented in said agreements is fake, and any engagement based on it is fraudulent. We strongly advise the public to exercise due diligence when engaging with entities claiming to be PAGCOR-accredited.”
Previously, PAGCOR has issued warnings regarding the proliferation of fake websites and fraudulent messages on the messaging platform Viber that impersonate PAGCOR officials.
Alongside the warning, PAGCOR also released a message from its Chairman and CEO, Alejandro Tengco, who spoke at the recent International Conference on Responsible Gambling and Addiction in the Philippines.
Tengco reiterated PAGCOR’s commitment to mitigating gambling-related harm through policies such as the automatic exclusion of minors, students and active government employees from gaming venues, PAGCOR’s self-exclusion program and the regulation of gambling advertisements.
“Gaming has inherent social risks, but with the right safeguards and collaboration among all sectors, we can ensure the safety and well-being of our players,” said Tengco. “As regulators, policymakers, industry operators, healthcare professionals, and academicians, we must not only share knowledge but also act as partners in understanding, preventing, and reducing the threats posed by problem gambling.”
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