Public warned against illegal offshore gaming sites
Inquirer files
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on Sunday warned the public against illegal offshore gaming websites that claim to be licensed or accredited by the agency.
Pagcor said the fake offshore gaming websites even use its logo and display fabricated license certificates.
It identified some of the illegal sites as efesbetcasino514.com, OG7777 online gaming (og7777.org), Mpo500.com, QQ88.com, mpo2121.com, Lgolive.com, napolibet.com, KRATOSBET LTD (kratosbet.com); mpossport.com and https://efsanebahis434.com.
Another fraudulent site, https://cazeus2.com/en/responsible-gaming, has been found to be operating from the United Kingdom.
READ: Pagcor detects 276 illegal gambling sites, some linked to Pogo
In a statement, Pagcor chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco said, “these platforms are not authorized to operate under any Pagcor-issued license. We want to make it very clear that the use of Pagcor’s name and logo by these sites is a blatant disrespect to the agency and poses a threat to the public.”
“We urge everyone to remain vigilant and to always verify the legitimacy of any gaming site before engaging in it,” he said.
Benefits, risks
Tengco reiterated that effective Dec. 31, 2024, all Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country are banned based on an order from President Marcos.
“Any entity claiming to operate under a Pagcor license for offshore gaming is clearly violating the law and should be reported immediately,” the Pagcor official said.
For a list of licensed gaming operators and to stay informed about legitimate gaming activities, the public can visit Pagcor’s official website at www.pagcor.ph.
The nationwide Pogo ban was announced by Marcos during his State of the Nation Address in July 2024.
In November, he issued Executive Order (EO) No. 74, which imposed an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.
Cited in his EO was a study by the Department of Finance, which noted that Pogo activities significantly outweigh their economic and social benefits because of the risks they pose, including higher crime rates. —PNA
