PAGCOR announces AI study to regulate igaming
The Philippine gambling regulator PAGCOR is studying the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen its oversight of the nation’s igaming sector.
Chairman Alejandro Tengco told a House Committee on Appropriations hearing that the regulator had started looking at AI tools to enhance its regulatory powers. He said one application would improve electronic know-your-customer protocols by detecting tampered identification documents.
“AI-powered e-KYC tools have shown to be very effective in detecting if an ID has been altered,” Tengco said. “Hopefully, with these new technologies, we can address concerns about fake registrations.”
PAGCOR also is examining how AI can track thousands of behavioral data points in real time.
Tengco said these systems can identify risky gambling patterns, like sudden betting spikes or longer playing times, allowing for early regulatory intervention.
“What’s good about these tools is that once the AI detects troubling behavior, an automatic ‘cooling period’ can be imposed,” he said. “The account is suspended, and the player can only resume once they provide valid reasons to the regulator.”
The push for greater oversight comes as the country cracks down on igaming. Last month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ordered e-wallets to delink from online gambling sites. After this, PAGCOR recorded that igaming transactions had fallen 50%.
Dig deeper
Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
Verticals:
Sectors:
Topics:
