Government winnings from gambling worth ₱200 million, belonging to public employees, withheld by PAGCOR
In a recent development, an international hacking group has reportedly gained access to the National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP) maintained by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The NDRP contains over 560,000 names, primarily of elected officials and other government employees who are legally restricted from gambling.
According to PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco, the breach is suspected to have originated from one of PAGCOR's licensed casino operators. The operators are granted access to the database to enforce restrictions at their venues. However, Tengco assured that PAGCOR's core systems were not hacked in this incident.
Tengco also announced that PAGCOR has voided or withheld more than ₱200 million (€3.2 million) in casino winnings from January to July 2021, due to winners being government officials or employees banned from gambling. He maintained that PAGCOR is committed to implementing strict measures against such individuals and that enforcement will remain uncompromising.
In addition, Tengco stated that even if the winners appeal, their winnings will not be given to them. He clarified that the NDRP is a compilation of people legally restricted from gambling, not a list of gambling addicts.
Meanwhile, the hacking group Deathnote Hackers International claimed that the NDRP contains individuals who might still gamble despite the restrictions. They also stated that some of these individuals could be addicted players. However, as of now, there are no publicly known persons associated with the access to the NDRP by the international hacking group.
PAGCOR is currently investigating claims that suspended Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Henry Alcantara and his colleagues frequented casinos despite the ban, using aliases and fake IDs. Offenders may be charged with "conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service" under civil service rules.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has also reminded government employees that they face administrative sanctions if caught gambling during office hours, whether it's on land-based casinos or online platforms.
On a separate note, the event SiGMA South Asia is scheduled to take place in Colombo from 30 Nov - 02 Dec 2025, with 5,000 delegates, 100+ speakers, and 1,000 operators gathering under one roof. The event aims to foster growth and innovation in the Asian gaming industry.
No new information about the Philippines weighing a bill to create a bitcoin reserve or the Limpopo Gambling Board promoting responsible gambling practices in Limpopo was provided in this article.
Read also:
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Uncovering Political Ad Transparency: A Guide to Investigating opponent's Political Advertisements in the Digital Realm
- Elon Musk praises JD Vance's debate performance against Tim Walz
