There is some context to this announcement. Step back in time to April of 2025, when PAGCOR basically said all B2B iGaming suppliers operating in the Philippines would have to get themselves properly accredited. And this isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a requirement. This is for all the key players, including content partners, aggregators, payment providers, and the deadline is March 31. Don’t expect a lot of sympathy from PAGCOR if suppliers miss the boat, as the consequence will be operators in the country no longer being allowed to work with them.
What GLI’s Role Actually Involves – In Simple Terms
As an independent testing lab, GLI essentially checks that iGaming platforms meet PAGCOR’s technical guidelines. Suppliers send their platforms off to GLI for testing, and they then get evaluated against the GLI-19 standard. If everything checks out, GLI will issue a certificate.
GLI-19 covers interactive gaming systems and it’s already widely used by other regulators. So adoption in the Philippines means that local and international suppliers will be working to a standard they’ve already become familiar with in other markets. This is good news for companies that have already got GLI-19 certification in other places, although there may still be some specific requirements to meet in the Philippines.
GLI themselves started back in 1989 and have certified more than 2 million facilities across over 710 jurisdictions since then. Clearly this experience has been a major factor in them getting the nod as the first accredited lab in the Philippines.
The Real Reason Behind The Compliance Push
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco basically cited player protection as the reason behind the need for all B2B providers to get accredited. And with GLI now in place, all suppliers have to prove that their products meet the technical standards set by PAGCOR before they can even get in front of players. GLI accreditation is a big help here, as it’s a clear testing process.
GLI President and CEO James R. Maida is pretty chuffed to have been the first to get accredited in the Philippines, and re-iterated his company’s intention to do exactly what the regulator needs it to do.
What This Means for Suppliers – And the Clock is Ticking
The March 31 deadline is fast approaching for all those B2B suppliers who haven’t yet started the certification process. Now that GLI has got the nod, the way forward is a bit clearer than before. However for some suppliers this is all a bit of pressure, as the deadline fast approaches. For those that are already certified under GLI-19 in other places, things will be a bit easier. But for new entrants to the Philippine market who have never dealt with GLI before, this adds to a pretty heavy operational burden.
The Philippines remains one of the most active regulated iGaming markets in Southeast Asia. The introduction of mandatory accreditation for B2B suppliers fits into the broader trend of tightening control over who operates within the licensed ecosystem and under what conditions.
