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Users of DITO Telecom are encountering a unique blocking mechanism when attempting to access unregistered cryptocurrency exchanges — one that not only restricts access but actively urges them to switch to government-approved gambling websites.
Special Warning Page Promoting Pagcor-Approved Websites
First spotted by web3 entrepreneur Steve Jimenez, while subscribers of other internet service providers (ISPs) like Smart and Globe typically encounter a standard “site cannot be reached” error or a generic NTC warning, DITO users visiting Binance, MEXC, and Crypto.com are now shown a specialized warning page promoting online casinos.
‘For Your Safety’ Screenshots obtained by BitPinas show a red banner reading “ACCESS RESTRICTED” overlaid on the screen.
Unlike previous warnings from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which flagged these platforms for offering unregistered securities, the DITO landing page frames the issue entirely under a gambling framework.
“This website is NOT licensed by PAGCOR,” the notice reads. “Many users have reported scams, fake games, and lost money that could not be recovered.”
Crucially, the page does not just stop at the warning. It explicitly directs users to alternative platforms with the text: “For your safety, please use the PAGCOR-approved websites listed below.”
Directly beneath this recommendation, the page displays icons for licensed gambling and betting platforms, including Nustar, PlayTime, WinZir, GGPoker, and Lucky Taya.
The footer of the page displays the official seals of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
User Confusion
The discovery has sparked confusion among local users, many of whom questioned why cryptocurrency exchanges are being blocked as “unlicensed gambling” and used to drive traffic to online casinos.
“In Smart and Globe it’s the regular block message. Only in Dito does the PAGCOR warning appear,” noted one user in a community discussion group.
This is a developing story.
This article is published on BitPinas: DITO Users Urged to Use PAGCOR Gambling Sites Instead of Blocked Crypto Exchanges
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