After being exposed for falsifying credentials by the Malta Gaming Authority and subsequently investigated by the UK Gambling Commission, the Philippines-based watchdog PAGCOR has now responded to PHLove.
As we originally reported, PHLove, a supposed Filipino-based operator, had been falsely claiming it was licensed by major gambling authorities. Its support operations also claimed it was licensed by PAGCOR, and any attempt to follow this up was met with an email bouncing back or instant disconnection.
Now, PAGCOR has responded to ReadWrite, confirming that its current available data on licensed operators doesn’t include PHLove. The Philippines has come down hard on illegal gambling sites in recent months, including news yesterday, July 1, that PAGCOR was releasing PHP 50 million ($886,997.50) to the Immigration Bureau to “expedite deportation of POGO workers”.
POGO workers are offshore gaming operators, which were banned entirely in 2024 by President Bongbong Marcos. It has also managed to shut down a reported 7,000 different sites. An issue pointed out by those involved with that is a lot of these illegally operating websites can pop right back up.
PAGCOR lines up PHLove as next investigation
PHLove could now be the next one in line, as PAGCOR has stated to ReadWrite that it is planning to refer the site to different investigation bodies:
“Accordingly, PAGCOR shall refer this site to the following Philippine government agencies for proper action: National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); Philippine National Police (PNP), and National Bureau of Investigation.”
PHLove is also still under investigation by the MGA, the Maltese watchdog. In a follow-up email, MGA said that it takes matters like this “very seriously”, as it creates a “false sense of credibility or regulatory oversight.”
PHLove is another domain name that has been hijacked in recent years by casino websites. According to the Wayback Machine, it originally belonged to a South Korean website for the 35th graduating class of Pyeonghae Middle School, which finished in 1984. This version of the site dates back to 2002 but it didn’t last long, as it was already showing errors by 2003. At some point in 2013, the domain began redirecting to a South Korean social media network, before ultimately being taken over by a casino operation in 2024.
ReadWrite has tried to re-contact PHLove for further comment.
Featured image: PHLove / PAGCOR
