PAGCOR, NPC join forces to strengthen data privacy in gaming industry

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) have entered into a partnership aimed at bolstering data privacy protection and ensuring regulatory compliance across the country’s gaming sector.

The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Monday, October 20, at the PAGCOR Corporate Office in Pasay City.

Under the agreement, the two agencies will work together to address data privacy challenges, enhance stakeholder collaboration, and promote a secure and trusted gaming environment.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the partnership reaffirms the state gaming firm’s commitment to safeguard the personal data of its employees, licensees, and gaming patrons.

“This MOU with the NPC is a vital step in aligning PAGCOR’s policies and processes with the evolving data privacy landscape, Mr. Tengco said. “It reinforces our duty to protect personal information while ensuring that our operations remain transparent, compliant, and trustworthy.”

He added that the partnership would pave the way for the full development of a database of government officials and employees who are prohibited from gambling in casinos and other gaming establishments nationwide.

“In collaboration with the NPC, PAGCOR hopes to finally develop a database of government employees who are prohibited from gambling in casinos. This is part of our promotion of responsible gaming,” he added.

NPC Privacy Commissioner and Chairman Atty. John Henry Naga, meanwhile, lauded PAGCOR’s proactive stance in embracing data privacy accountability, noting that cooperation between regulatory agencies is crucial in safeguarding personal data especially in industries handling large volumes of sensitive information.

“The formalization of this collaboration between NPC and PAGCOR underscores the security of our citizens’ personal data, which is not just a regulatory requirement but a hallmark of excellence in the gaming industry,” Atty. Naga said.

The idea of a formal partnership was first raised during an NPC-led Data Privacy Training Workshop for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations where

PAGCOR Data Privacy Officer Maria Concepcion Gloria-Rubio proposed the creation of a framework to enhance compliance mechanisms.

Under the MOU, PAGCOR and NPC will implement joint programs on privacy awareness, capacity building, and policy development to strengthen privacy governance within the gaming sector