Guide
Philippines Gaming Regulator Tightens Rules for Crypto-Linked Online Casinos
22 October 2026
In a major move to curb illicit financial activity and enhance player protection, the Philippine gaming regulator has announced sweeping new amendments to its oversight of cryptocurrency-related online gaming operators.
The Philippines' Gaming Control Corporation (PAGCOR) published a memorandum titled "Amendments to the Existing Regulatory Frameworks" on May 26, 2026. The document outlines stricter requirements for digital gaming and entertainment platforms that process cryptocurrency transactions.
Under the new guidelines, online gaming licensees must establish a tangible operational presence in the Philippines, including a physical site with a minimum floor area of 25,000 square meters. Domestic IP addresses will be blocked from accessing the platforms, except for those explicitly authorized by PAGCOR.
Licensed operators will also face enhanced due diligence requirements, along with more rigorous customer identification, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting measures under the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.
"These updates to our regulatory framework aim to improve traceability, reinforce anti-money laundering protections, and ensure a transparent, secure playing environment," said a PAGCOR representative in a press release.
Strengthened Responsible Gaming Measures
The regulator has simultaneously rolled out new responsible gaming safeguards to mitigate risks of problem gambling. Licensees must now have robust self-exclusion programs, implement automated play-time and deposit limits, and verify the age and location of prospective players. The use of credit cards and cryptocurrencies for funding online gaming accounts is explicitly prohibited.
Streamlined Accreditation and Licensing
PAGCOR has also revised the accreditation process for gaming affiliates, support service providers, and foreign licensees. Non-domestic operators are required to appoint a local gaming agent and affiliated entities such as game providers, payment gateways, and software laboratories must obtain local accreditation.
The revised framework introduces the new Unified Gaming License (UGL), which streamlines license categories for venue operations and strengthens disclosures on foreign affiliates. Industry insiders expect the upcoming launch of a platform verification app in December 2026.
Despite minimizing direct references to crypto casinos in its public materials, PAGCOR's new measures are likely responses to the Philippines' rapid growth in cryptocurrency and blockchain gaming. With over 6.1 million crypto owners in the highly unbanked nation, Malaysian casino junkets and offshore operators have aggressively tapped the market, posing challenges to regulators.
The stricter local presence requirements and transaction monitoring are seen as bulwarks against illicit financial flows and gambling addictions. However, some expect the enhanced scrutiny to impede operators' agility in responding to market demands.
It is unclear if the new measures aim to create a formal crypto casino license category or simply apply existing rules more stringently. The exact implications for existing and prospective crypto-linked operators remain to be seen.
Political and public sentiment support the tighter regulatory direction, as anti-money laundering efforts spread across the gaming industry in 2023 included stricter monitoring of junkets and casinos. But there may still be layers to the new rules awaiting clarification in the coming weeks.