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PAGCOR Targets Suppliers in New Gambling Enforcement Drive

PAGCOR Shifts to Supplier Accreditation – Operators Face Direct Compliance Pressure

Key Takeaways

• PAGCOR has moved from policy implementation to active compliance verification across the Philippine gaming market.
• The regulator requires accreditation of gaming affiliates and support service providers, with a deadline of 31 March 2026.
• Operators were instructed to submit lists of B2B suppliers, which PAGCOR cross-checked against its records.
• Unaccredited suppliers may face commercial disruption if operators are ordered to cease using their services.
• The changes form part of broader efforts to tighten oversight and address unlicensed gambling activity.

PAGCOR Moves From Policy Rollout to Active Compliance Checks

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, known as PAGCOR, has intensified its enforcement strategy by shifting its focus toward suppliers in the country’s online gambling sector. According to a notice shared by the law firm Arden Consult, the regulator has moved from policy implementation to active compliance verification.

This development follows PAGCOR’s earlier announcement in April that it would introduce a Regulatory Framework for the Accreditation of Gaming Affiliates and Support Service providers. Under this framework, entities that support iGaming operations must undergo formal accreditation. The scope includes game aggregators, game content providers, payment providers, and know your customer providers.

The accreditation deadline has been set for 31 March 2026. However, enforcement activity has already begun. Arden Consult reported that in January PAGCOR directed licensed operators to submit a list of their B2B suppliers. These lists were then cross-checked with PAGCOR’s internal records.

This approach signals a transition from issuing rules to verifying whether all participants in the gaming ecosystem meet regulatory requirements.

Operators Positioned as Frontline Compliance Filters

Under the current enforcement model, licensed operators play a central role in ensuring that their supplier networks comply with PAGCOR standards. According to Arden Consult, operators are now acting as frontline compliance filters.

In practice, this means that even suppliers not directly subject to a regulatory investigation may experience commercial consequences if they lack proper accreditation. If PAGCOR identifies unaccredited vendors, operators may be instructed to stop using their services. The regulator can issue cease and desist notices in such cases.

For operators, this creates an immediate need to review and verify the accreditation status of every third party within their ecosystem. Any gap in documentation or approval could interrupt ongoing commercial relationships. For suppliers, the framework effectively makes accreditation a prerequisite for continued market access.

This supplier focused enforcement marks a structural change. Rather than concentrating solely on licensed operators, the regulator is extending scrutiny to the full chain of service providers that enable online gambling activity.

Part of Broader Efforts to Strengthen Online Gambling Oversight

The supplier accreditation requirement forms part of PAGCOR’s wider strategy to strengthen regulatory controls in the Philippine online gambling market and to address the unlicensed sector.

When the framework was first announced, Keith McDonnell, Director at the KMI Group, described the move as a natural progression for the regulator. He noted that it represents a step toward end to end policing and regulation of all iGaming related business in the Philippines, with the aim of preventing the infiltration of bad actors.

The renewed enforcement push comes amid broader regulatory discussions. PAGCOR is reportedly considering additional measures, including the possibility of a complete ban on gambling advertising. The regulator has already implemented a blackout on television and radio gambling advertisements during primetime hours between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.

Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer, has stated that a full advertising ban could be under consideration. While no final decision has been announced, the discussion indicates that the regulator is reviewing multiple levers to tighten market oversight.

Increased Scrutiny of Influencer Marketing

Alongside supplier accreditation, authorities have intensified their focus on influencer marketing linked to gambling promotion. During a recent press briefing, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre detailed that ten specific influencers are under suspicion. The names mentioned include Perkz Gaming, Jam Magno, Vic Desucatan, and Wampipti.

This follows earlier action by PAGCOR, which had issued warnings to a group of 30 influencers months prior. The regulator has expressed concerns that certain promotional practices may harm the country’s gambling ecosystem and undermine safer gambling efforts.

The combined focus on supplier accreditation, advertising restrictions, and influencer activity demonstrates a multi layer enforcement strategy. Rather than addressing only licensed operators, regulators are examining marketing channels and third party service providers that support the industry.

Implications for the Philippine iGaming Ecosystem

The current measures highlight a regulatory model that places accountability across the entire operational chain. Payment providers, content suppliers, aggregators, and compliance service firms are now directly affected by accreditation requirements. Operators must verify that every contracted vendor meets PAGCOR standards before the 31 March 2026 deadline.

For businesses active in the Philippine market, the changes require internal compliance reviews and documentation checks. For international stakeholders monitoring regulatory trends, the supplier focused approach may serve as a reference point for how other jurisdictions could address black market risks and third party involvement.

The enforcement shift also underscores the regulator’s intention to move beyond policy announcements and toward systematic verification of compliance.

Our Assessment

PAGCOR has transitioned from introducing new regulatory frameworks to actively verifying compliance across the supplier network of licensed operators. By requiring accreditation of gaming affiliates and support service providers and cross checking B2B supplier lists, the regulator has extended oversight beyond operators themselves. Combined with advertising restrictions and scrutiny of influencer marketing, the measures reflect a coordinated effort to tighten control over the Philippine online gambling market and address unlicensed activity through multiple regulatory channels.