Arrests Made in Gambling Operation by PAGCOR
PAGCOR Cracks Down on Illegal Online Gambling in Affluent Subdivision
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) led a successful operation against illegal online gambling in the affluent BF Northwest Subdivision. The primary target of the operation was Tbb888.com, a platform offering slots, casino, and esports betting illegally.
The National Capital Region Police Office and Anti-Cybercrime Group were involved in the operation, which resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals in Parañaque City. Authorities seized computers, phones, tablets, laptops, and drives during the raid.
Illegal online gambling remains a significant issue in the Philippines, with Tbb888.com being just one of the nearly 5,000 illegal websites that PAGCOR has been working to block. So far, the corporation has managed to block 80% of these sites.
PAGCOR has historically managed and regulated gambling since 1976, running its own casinos and licensing private operators. Since 2016, PAGCOR expanded into online gambling oversight with a focus on licensing and regulating POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) entities. However, tensions with the Chinese government and crime concerns culminated in the 2024 POGO ban, significantly changing regulation dynamics.
Regarding illegal sites like Tbb888.com, PAGCOR warns the public against unlicensed offshore gambling websites. The regulator actively pursues enforcement against these illegal operators to protect players from fraud and illegal practices. PAGCOR employs ongoing technology upgrades, such as AI-based tools, to monitor and identify illegal gambling and problem gambling activities.
PAGCOR's efforts to combat illegal online gambling include cracking down on unlicensed sites through legal and technical means, enhancing Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and accreditation for service providers, increasing penalties and enforcement under laws such as Republic Act No. 9287, planning privatization of casinos to focus more on regulation rather than operation by 2028, and public warnings against illegal gambling platforms and promoting engagement only with PAGCOR-authorized sites.
Raul Villanueva, PAGCOR's SVP for Security, reiterated the corporation's commitment to combating illegal online gambling. He emphasized the need to monitor and report illegal online gambling sites to authorities. PAGCOR is working closely with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center under the Department of Information and Communications Technology in these efforts.
The BF Northwest Subdivision, home to political and business leaders, was chosen as the location for this operation due to the prevalence of illegal gambling activities in the area. The public is advised to avoid patronizing illegal online gambling sites and instead play on legal platforms for self-protection.
- PAGCOR's ongoing operation against illegal online gambling in the affluent BF Northwest Subdivision is not limited to Tbb888.com, as they are also working to block thousands of other unlicensed sports betting, casino-and-gambling, and general-news websites.
- The crackdown on illegal online gambling by PAGCOR extends beyond arresting operators and seizing equipment, with ongoing efforts to combat crime-and-justice issues associated with such activities, such as fraud and illegal practices.
