The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has issued an official statement, clarifying that its National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP) is not a list of gambling addicts but a record of people banned from entering casinos and other gambling establishments. The clarification came after social media claims suggested that hackers had accessed the NDRP
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has issued an official statement, clarifying that its National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP) is not a list of gambling addicts but a record of people banned from entering casinos and other gambling establishments.
The clarification came after social media claims suggested that hackers had accessed the NDRP and described it as a database of problem gamblers. PAGCOR said the leaked list did not come from its website but likely from one of its licensed gaming operators, who have legal access to the database.
Vina Claudette Oca, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President, stated:
“The names on the list are not necessarily addicted gamblers; most are government officials who, by law, are not allowed to enter gambling establishments, thus their inclusion in the NDRP.”
There are currently 560,000 names, mostly of elected officials, sourced from the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Oca noted that the database is still incomplete, as millions of government workers nationwide also need to be included.
Aside from officials, the list contains 1,711 people who have asked to be banned from casinos through self-exclusion, family exclusion, or actions taken by PAGCOR licensees. This means that these individuals are also not gambling addicts.
PAGCOR made it clear that the database is a regulatory tool, not a record of personal habits or addictions.
FAQs
Is gambling legal in the Philippines?
Gambling is legal in the Philippines and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and other local authorities.
What is the legal gambling age in the Philippines?
The legal gambling age in the Philippines is 21 years old for casino gambling and 18 years old for lotteries and other forms of betting.