Responsible gambling

Casino apps are meant to be entertainment. This page covers how to keep it that way, the signs that it has stopped being fun, and the help available in the Philippines, including PAGCOR’s exclusion programmes and the counselling centres it accredits.

Gambling in the Philippines is for people aged 21 and over only.

Who is not allowed to gamble

Under the PAGCOR Charter (Presidential Decree 1869), as amended by Republic Act 9487, and Malacañang Memorandum Circular No. 6 of 2016, these people are not allowed to enter, stay in or play at PAGCOR licensed gaming:

Anyone under 21
Government officials and employees connected directly with the operation of the government or its agencies
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police
Anyone listed in the National Database of Restricted Persons
Holders of a Gaming Employment Licence

Offshore casinos set their own age rules. That does not change Philippine law, which puts the age at 21.

Habits that keep gambling under control

Play for fun only. Gambling is not a way to make money or pay off debts.
Count losses as the price of the entertainment. Only put in money you can afford to lose.
Set a time and money limit before you start. Stop when you reach either one.
Expect to lose. Every casino game has a built-in edge for the house.
Never borrow to gamble. That includes loans, credit and money meant for bills. PAGCOR does not let the operators it licenses take bets paid for by credit card or cryptocurrency, citing the risk of over-borrowing.
Keep your life in balance. Gambling should never replace time with family and friends, work or other things you enjoy.
Do not chase losses. Never try to win back what you lost with a bigger deposit.

Tools inside casino apps

Many casino apps let you control your own play, some in your account settings and some through customer support. PAGCOR now requires the operators it licenses to build in responsible gaming tools such as self exclusion and betting limits. Look for these:

Deposit limits. A daily, weekly or monthly cap on how much you can pay in.
Loss and wager limits. Caps on how much you can lose or bet over a set period.
Session reminders. A message after a set time telling you how long you have been playing.
Time outs. A break for a period you choose, during which you cannot log in.
Self exclusion. Closing your account for a long period, or for good.

Set limits when you open an account, while you are calm, rather than in the middle of a session. If an app has no limit tools of its own, keep to the time and money limits you set before you start.

Signs that gambling has become a problem

PAGCOR lists these warning signs. If any of them sound familiar, it is time to stop and get help:

Spending or betting more money than you meant to
Playing for longer than you planned
Trying again and again to win back losses
Debt, unpaid bills or other money trouble because of gambling
Thinking about gambling all the time
Borrowing, stealing or selling belongings to keep playing
Arguments or broken relationships because of gambling
Feeling hopeless, distressed or depressed because of gambling
Gambling affecting every part of your life

PAGCOR exclusion programmes

PAGCOR runs two exclusion programmes. An exclusion applies across every site that PAGCOR licenses and operates.

Self exclusion

This is for players who feel they are developing a problem. You choose an exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. The first 6 months cannot be cancelled once the order is made. When the period ends, the exclusion is lifted automatically.

To apply you need:

The online application, completed on PAGCOR’s Self-Exclusion Application Portal
An image of a government-issued ID
A selfie, taken through the online application

Family exclusion

A spouse, child or parent can apply to have a family member excluded, and PAGCOR calls that family member the respondent. The periods are 6 months, 1 year or 3 years, and the order lifts automatically at the end.

The application needs:

The Family Exclusion application form from PAGCOR
A photocopy of the respondent’s government-issued photo ID
A photocopy of the applicant’s government-issued photo ID or school ID
Two 2×2 colour photos of the respondent, taken within the last 6 months, full face, with no hat, glasses or face mask
A birth certificate of the respondent if the applicant is a parent or a child aged at least 18, or a marriage certificate if the applicant is the spouse

If the application is not handed in personally, PAGCOR asks for a selfie or a video call to confirm it.

How to send an application

PAGCOR no longer accepts self exclusion applications in person, so apply through the portal, and allow about two weeks for the exclusion to take effect.

For family exclusion, email the form and the requirements to ResponsibleGaming@pagcor.ph, or leave them in the drop box at the MET Live Building, Central Business Park 1-A, Macapagal Boulevard corner EDSA Extension, Pasay City.

Offshore apps are not licensed by PAGCOR, so if you also play offshore, set up each app’s own self exclusion as well.

Where to get help

The National Problem Gambling Helpline on (02) 8248-9568 is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. PAGCOR runs it with Seagulls Flock Organization, and its trained counsellors can refer you to treatment. You can also message the helpline on Viber through its site, npgh.ph, or email PAGCOR’s responsible gaming team at ResponsibleGaming@pagcor.ph.

If someone is in immediate danger, call emergency services or the National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline on 1553, because the helpline is not an emergency service.

PAGCOR also accredits these help centres:

Bridges of Hope Drugs and Alcohol Rehabilitation Foundation: 364 Aguirre Avenue, Phase 3, BF Homes, Parañaque City, with branches nationwide. Call (02) 622-0193 or 0917 509 8826, or email help@bridgesofhope.com.ph.
Life Change Recovery Center: 105 Scout Rallos Street, Kamuning, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City. Call (02) 415-7964 or (02) 415-6529.
Milestone Health and Wellness Center: 58 Paterno Street, South Drive, Baguio City. Call 0919 000 9188.
Gamblers Anonymous Philippines: call 0915 938 2808 or email talktous@gaphilippines.com. Its site, gaphilippines.com, lists face-to-face meetings in Quezon City, Makati, Cebu City, Baguio and other towns, and daily virtual meetings.
Gam-Anon Philippines: support for families and friends of people with a gambling problem. Its 24-hour hotline is 0995 110 1327, and its site is gam-anonphilippines.org.

Tell someone you trust at home what is happening. A spouse, parent or adult child can also apply to PAGCOR for family exclusion.

Keeping children safe

Do not let anyone under 21 use your casino app or your account.
Lock your phone and keep casino app logins out of shared password managers.
Log out after each session on a shared device.
Use your phone’s parental controls to block gambling apps and websites for children.

Responsible gambling FAQ

How old do you have to be to gamble in the Philippines?

21 or older.

Can I cancel a PAGCOR self exclusion early?

Not in the first 6 months. That part of the period cannot be cancelled. The exclusion lifts automatically when the period you chose ends.

Can I exclude a family member?

Yes, if you are their spouse, child or parent. PAGCOR’s family exclusion lasts 6 months, 1 year or 3 years.

Does PAGCOR exclusion cover offshore casinos?

No. PAGCOR carries out its exclusion across the sites it licenses and operates, and offshore casinos are not among them, so use the self exclusion inside each offshore app as well.

Who can I call for help?

Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline on (02) 8248-9568 at any hour, free of charge. You can also call Gamblers Anonymous Philippines on 0915 938 2808, the Gam-Anon hotline on 0995 110 1327 if someone close to you gambles, or one of PAGCOR’s accredited help centres listed above.

Is there help for families?

Yes. Gam-Anon Philippines supports the families and friends of people with a gambling problem and runs a 24-hour hotline. The National Problem Gambling Helpline supports families too, and family exclusion lets a spouse, child or parent apply to PAGCOR.

Our list of legit casino apps in the Philippines shows the licence behind each app, so you know which ones come under PAGCOR’s rules.

Gambling in the Philippines is for adults aged 21 and over. For help at any hour, call PAGCOR’s responsible gaming line on (02) 8248-9568.