Pagcor list of restricted casino players hacked

The national database containing 500,000 names barred from playing in casinos has been hacked, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco revealed yesterday.

- RAINIER ALLAN RONDA, Neil Jayson Servallos

In a radio interview, Tengco said the hacking of the national database, which is shared with all licensed and PAGCOR-operated casinos, was discovered yesterday afternoon.

"The list, the national database for restricted persons, came from PAGCOR. It's homegrown," Tengco said in Filipino.

"More or less 500,000 names, and it's continuously being updated. We also share that definitely we have to share that with our licensed casinos, we have to give this notice," he explained.

Tengco said the database contains the names of individuals who had either personally requested, or whose relatives had requested, to be banned from casinos due to suspected or confirmed gambling addiction.

Also included in the list are top-level government officials.