Pagcor Blocks PHP200 Million in Winnings From Officials and Employees

Casino regulators in the Philippines have been strict this year, refusing to release winnings to players who are not even allowed inside gaming halls.

Good to Know

• More than PHP200 million (US$3.5M) in winnings were withheld from January to July 2025.
• The restriction applies to government employees and elected officials.
• Pagcor uses a secondary screening system to detect banned players at payout.

Alejandro Tengco, Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), confirmed that the agency enforced the long-standing ban against government workers gambling in casinos.

“Up to July, there is more than PHP200 million that we have voided, or we did not award prizes hit by these restricted persons: elected LGU [local government unit] officials, government employees,” Tengco said in a radio interview with True FM, adding:

“Even if they make an appeal, we will never give them their winnings.”

Identity Verification

Casinos are required to verify the identity of winners before releasing prizes. Tengco described the process as a “secondary screening,” which takes place when a player attempts to claim their payout. If the person is found to be a government employee or official, the prize is immediately canceled.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 06, government workers and officials in the Philippines are barred from entering and gambling in licensed casinos. The rule has been in place for years, but Pagcor’s recent enforcement has brought the impact into focus.

The enforcement comes at a time when Philippine lawmakers are looking more closely at the gambling industry, especially online operators. The Senate has opened debates on whether to tighten oversight of internet-based betting.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently ordered e-wallet and digital payment platforms to remove direct links to online gambling sites in the Philippines. This to prevent financial apps from serving as gateways to unregulated gaming. This has however quickly led to a 50% drop in legal gaming action in the country, so it’s not entirely sure if it is having the effect it was intended for.

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