Philippine Bettors Seek NBI Probe into PHP5bn Jackpots

A group of online bettors has appealed to the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into claims that an online gaming platform withheld jackpot prizes worth an estimated PHP4 billion to PHP5 billion.

The complainants allege that winnings generated through the platform’s Lucky Spin feature were dismissed as system errors and never transferred to their player accounts.

On Thursday, five bettors, accompanied by their legal representatives, submitted sworn affidavits to the NBI’s National Capital Region office. Their lawyer, Leo la Victoria, said eight complainants had come forward in total, although only five filed affidavits that day.

Bettor Claims PHP570m Win Was Denied

One of the individuals seeking an investigation said he had won PHP570 million in a single game. However, he claimed that the platform’s customer service team later informed him that its records showed no such winning result.

He also described a meeting with company representatives at their Taguig office on June 11, 2025. According to his account, he was pressured to sign a waiver and accept PHP300,000 after disputing the handling of his alleged jackpot.

The bettor said that when he initially refused, a company representative warned that he would not be allowed to leave. He claimed the incident made him feel unsafe and prompted him to move elsewhere.

The PHP300,000 payment he described was separate from the PHP570 million prize he maintains he had won.

Videos and Screenshots Submitted Over Two Jackpots

Another complainant, identified as Cat, provided investigators with video recordings and screenshots relating to two alleged jackpot wins.

She said the first occurred on March 24, 2025, and was worth PHP485 million. A second win, allegedly amounting to PHP539 million, followed on April 3, 2025.

Cat claims neither prize appeared in her account balance. She submitted the recordings and screenshots as supporting material for her account of the two wins.

Her allegations form part of the wider complaint concerning how the platform handled jackpot results. The amounts remain claims submitted for investigation and have not been verified by the NBI.

Gaming Company and PAGCOR Officials Included in Complaint

La Victoria put the combined value of the prizes claimed by all eight complainants at between PHP4 billion and PHP5 billion. This estimate relates to the wider group and is not limited to the individual cases described publicly.

The complaints name the gaming platform, officials associated with the company and representatives of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

The bettors are seeking an independent examination of the alleged unpaid winnings. La Victoria said the NBI should determine whether any legal or regulatory breaches occurred, leaving that assessment to the investigators.

NBI to Review Evidence Before Contacting Parties

NBI-NCR chief Emerito Dongallo said investigators would begin by reviewing the affidavits to establish whether the allegations have sufficient grounds for further action.

Any decision to issue subpoenas to the parties concerned will follow that initial assessment.

Dongallo said the bureau would approach the matter impartially and give careful consideration to the complainants’ statements. The NBI will assess the submitted material before deciding whether the individuals and organisations named in the complaints should be asked to respond.