Philippine police, sports regulatory body step up joint efforts to fight illegal gambling??
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the government’s regulatory body for professional sports, have renewed their operational partnership to intensify the crackdown on illegal gambling, particularly as it shifts to digital platforms. A memorandum of agreement was signed at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City, outlining enhanced collaboration in surveillance, enforcement, and intelligence sharing.
Under the renewed arrangement, the PNP will assign personnel on a per-operation basis to support the GAB Anti-Illegal Gambling Unit (GAB-AIGU), primarily through the Anti-Cybercrime Group and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. These units will be tasked with surveillance, casing, and apprehension during joint anti-illegal gambling operations.
Intelligence sharing and coordinated response
GAB will provide the PNP with intelligence reports gathered from its network of field officers and stakeholders. This information is expected to aid the planning and execution of coordinated law enforcement actions.
Both agencies also pledged to maintain close coordination through designated secretariats and focal officers. The PNP said this mechanism aims to improve operational efficiency and ensure quick response times during enforcement activities targeting illegal gambling in professional sports and amusement games.
Government push to safeguard sports integrity
The two agencies said the renewed partnership reaffirms the Philippine government’s continuing push to uphold the integrity of professional sports and eliminate unauthorised betting operations. Authorities noted that illegal gambling not only undermines legal operators but also affects public trust in regulated gaming and sports events.
The signing was led by PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III and other senior officials, alongside GAB Chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera and Commissioner for Operations Atty. Manuel Plaza. The agreement follows recent statements by the PNP emphasising the need to support legal gambling while dismantling unlicensed operations.
PAGCOR’s subsite launched to spot legitimate online gaming platforms
This development follows the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ‘s recent launch of the “PAGCOR Guarantee,” an online platform that allows users to verify the legitimacy of internet-based gaming sites. PAGCOR said the move is part of the agency’s campaign to clamp down on illegal online gambling.
According to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, the new website will enable Filipino players to easily identify and verify whether online gaming sites are duly licensed before playing or making any payments. The website features a regularly updated list of licensed operators and allows users to access legal gaming platforms directly under PAGCOR’s jurisdiction.
