The warning came after reports in the media suggested starspangled200.org was being used by fraudsters as a link to an illegal gambling site operating in the Philippines.
The website address was printed on almost 800,000 registered vehicle plates in Maryland to promote the US state’s history. However, the URL redirects to globeinternational.info/, a site that has been used to illegally offer gambling.
Pagcor chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco said this violates players’ rights and places the Philippines in a bad light in terms of safe and legal gambling.
“Pagcor has nothing to do with the said websites, as well as the gaming activities happening therein,” Tengco said. “As the country’s gaming regulator, Pagcor does not condone illegal online gambling.
“Engaging or betting on illegal gambling activities is not only a criminal act; it also takes away from the government billions of pesos in revenues which can be used to fund priority programs that will benefit a greater number of Filipinos.
“Hence, we have been continuously working with various government and law enforcement agencies to ensure that our gaming policies are in place and the online gaming platforms that we regulate are safe and credible.”
Tengco added that the matter was referred to its Security and Monitoring Cluster for further investigation. In addition, the site was referred to the appropriate government agency.
Regulatory action
The warning followed a number of regulatory ruling by Pagcor in recent weeks. Last month, Pagcor cancelled a licence belonging to Sun Valley Clark, stating the company’s facilities had been used for illegal activities.
This comes after CGC Technologies – which occupied six buildings within Sun Valley’s hub – had its licence revoked last week, after an investigation revealed that it had participated in illegal operations.
Pagcor also recently issued a warning to Philippines offshore gambling operations (POGOs) engaged in illegal activities.
Tengco called on all of the country’s offshore licensees and service providers to operate within the bounds of their licences.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/pagcor-warns-against-us-based-illegal-gambling-website/
