Philippine bettors demand NBI probe into unpaid jackpots
Eight Philippine bettors allege an online platform dismissed multi-million-dollar wins as system glitches and pressured claimants into signing waivers.
Key takeaways:
- Eight online bettors have formally requested that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigate an igaming operator over PHP4bn to PHP5bn (US$70m–US$87.5m) in alleged unpaid jackpot winnings.
- Complainants claim that multi-million-peso wins via a “Lucky Spin” feature were withheld and dismissed by the operator as system glitches.
- One bettor alleges he accepted a reduced settlement of PHP300,000 (US$5,250) for a PHP570m (US$8.9m) win after being pressured and threatened at the operator’s office.
- Submissions to the NBI name company representatives alongside officials from regulator PAGCOR, citing a lack of assistance following prior appeals.
- The NBI National Capital Region office is evaluating the affidavits to determine whether to issue subpoenas and launch a formal inquiry into potential regulatory or legal violations.
The Philippines.- Several online betting customers have asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate allegations that an online gaming platform failed to pay jackpot winnings estimated at between PHP4bn (US$70m) and PHP5bn (US$87.5m). The complainants claim that wins recorded through the platform’s “Lucky Spin” feature were dismissed as system glitches and never credited to their accounts.
Five bettors have submitted affidavits to the NBI’s National Capital Region office, while lawyer Leo La Victoria cited eight complainants. One complainant claims to have won PHP570m (US$9.98m) in a single game in March 2025. He says that customer service representatives later told him there was no record of the win.
According to his account, a meeting with company representatives at an office in Taguig on June 11 2025 ended with him accepting PHP300,000 (US$5,250) after being pressured to sign a waiver relinquishing further claims. The bettor alleged that a representative threatened not to let him leave when he initially refused to sign. He said the incident left him feeling unsafe and prompted him to move to another residence.
Another complainant has presented videos and screenshots relating to two alleged jackpot wins. She claims to have won PHP485m (US$8.49m ) on March 24 2025 and PHP539m (US$9.43m) on April 3 2025 but said neither amount was credited to her account. She claims that an appeal to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) did not result in assistance.
Emeterio Dongallo Jr., director of the NBI’s National Capital Region office, said the bureau would examine the affidavits to determine whether there was sufficient basis to proceed.
