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Technology is becoming central to regulation in the Philippines.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced that it is reviewing a set of AI-powered tools designed to strengthen oversight of the country’s growing online gambling market. The initiative aims to detect problem gambling behaviours earlier while cracking down on the use of tampered IDs during registration.
AI enters the oversight picture
Regulators are testing fresh digital safeguards.
During a budget hearing, PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco confirmed that the regulator is studying several technology-driven systems. Among them is an electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) tool that can spot altered or falsified identification documents. This measure is intended to curb fraudulent activity and prevent underage gambling on licensed platforms.
The regulator is also evaluating systems capable of behavioural tracking. These would monitor player activity in real time, scanning for patterns that might indicate signs of gambling addiction. If suspicious behaviour is flagged, the platform could temporarily suspend the player’s account to introduce a “cooling period” until further review is completed.
Public joins the enforcement effort
Players now have a way to flag illegal activity.
Alongside PAGCOR’s exploration of AI, local digital rights organisation Digital Pinoys has introduced a new reporting tool on its website. This feature enables members of the public to submit evidence of illegal gambling promotions, including advertisements from unlicensed operators and influencer campaigns on social media.
The information received will be checked against PAGCOR’s list of approved operators. The move reflects a wider push to include civil society in the fight against unregulated activity in the Philippines’ betting landscape.
The wider regulatory challenge
Market growth continues to test enforcement.
As the online gambling sector in the Philippines expands, authorities have faced difficulties keeping pace with illegal operators and unregulated marketing. The introduction of stricter rules earlier this year already included a ban on unauthorised advertising and celebrity endorsements for gambling platforms.
By adding AI to its regulatory toolkit, PAGCOR is seeking to close enforcement gaps that manual checks and traditional oversight methods have struggled to address. Technology could offer a scalable way to track gambling behaviour and ensure compliance in a fast-moving market.
Future direction for PAGCOR
Stronger rules could reshape the industry’s next phase.
PAGCOR’s exploration of AI fits into a broader regulatory strategy that emphasises responsible gambling and market stability. With tools that detect problem gambling and prevent fraud, the regulator aims to ensure that growth in the sector is matched by safeguards for players.
The combination of AI systems and public reporting mechanisms may also give PAGCOR more visibility into the activities of unlicensed operators. If implemented, these measures could shift how oversight works in practice, moving it from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention.
As the Philippines moves deeper into its digital gambling era, the balance between innovation and regulation will remain a central theme. For PAGCOR, the adoption of AI technology represents both a test and an opportunity: a chance to prove that advanced tools can support effective governance while maintaining consumer trust.
Source: Gambling Insider
