The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently disclosed that from January to July this year, over 200 million pesos in casino jackpots were voided because the winners were government officials or civil servants. According to current regulations, civil servants are strictly prohibited from entering casinos or participating in any form of gambling.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco emphasized in a radio interview: "Even if someone appeals, we will never disburse these prizes."
It is understood that casinos have set up a secondary identity verification process at the prize redemption stage: winners must present their ID again and cooperate with CCTV monitoring for comparison. Once confirmed as a civil servant or other restricted group, the prize is immediately voided. Some involved individuals are even suspected of using aliases or fake IDs to infiltrate the casino. Previously, Henry Alcantara, a suspended engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), admitted to gambling heavily with colleagues on multiple occasions and having someone arrange VIP casino cards for them.
The incident has sparked heated discussions in society, with many questioning whether the ban on gambling for civil servants is effectively implemented. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) also reiterated: Whether on duty or in private, online or offline, civil servants participating in gambling will be considered as "damaging the public service image" and will be disciplined according to the Civil Service Law.
This controversy has brought more attention to the enforcement and determination of PAGCOR and law enforcement agencies in implementing the gambling ban.
