Philippines reports 93.6% decrease in detected illegal iGaming URLs

A partnership between the Philippines’ Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and Taiwan-based TrustTech firm Gogolook has resulted in a 93.6% drop in illegal iGaming URLs, according to a new report. The findings seek to highlight how government–industry cooperation can address online gambling and digital fraud.

The CICC, an agency under the Department of Information and Communications Technology, reported that the number of detected illegal gambling URLs fell from more than 4,300 in the second quarter to 275 in the third quarter of this year. The findings were released in a report prepared jointly with Gogolook, which operates the Whoscall anti-scam application.

The decline followed what the CICC described as “intensified monitoring and takedown efforts” by authorities. Public awareness campaigns that inform users about the risks of illegal gambling platforms were also cited as contributing factors.

“The third-quarter decline shows that our combined efforts with partners like Gogolook are working,” the CICC stated. “Illegal online gambling is not only a moral and social issue – it fuels financial crimes, data theft and money laundering. Every site taken down helps protect Filipino families from exploitation.”

Gogolook introduced Whoscall to the Philippines in 2023 as part of efforts to combat online scams and fraudulent activity. The Philippine government renewed its partnership with the company in January 2025. Through the app, users are encouraged to report illegal websites and suspicious online activities.

Gogolook founder and CEO Jeff Kuo earlier described the initiative as part of a “shared responsibility framework” between consumers and authorities. “All the basic functions will be free for a long time,” Kuo said in an interview with the Manila Standard. “We believe anti-scam is a human right. Once we have the knowledge about scammers, we must share the basic protections for free – especially in the Philippines.”

The latest data from the CICC come as licensed gaming companies move to distinguish themselves from unregulated operators. In August, 19 iGaming firms accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) formed the PlaySafe Alliance, a coalition intended to raise public awareness about licensed platforms and to assist authorities in curbing illegal gaming operations.

Both private and public initiatives are directed toward identifying and dismantling illegal digital gambling networks that often overlap with other financial and data-related crimes.

While the CICC report pointed to a substantial reduction in identified illegal iGaming domains, the agency maintained that enforcement and public reporting will continue. The CICC has also called on internet users to stay vigilant and to report websites or online activities linked to unauthorized gambling.

The agency noted that collaboration between regulators, technology firms, and the public is essential to prevent unlicensed gambling and other forms of digital exploitation in the country’s growing online ecosystem.