Land-Based Casino Will Accept Online Bets. The Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) authorized Solaire Resort and Casino operated by Bloomberry Resorts, to accepts online bets, president Alfredo Lima informed in mobile messages. The casino’s system will have to undergo testing with the regulator, the agency further clarified.
The Philippines’ gambling regulatory body, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), has announced its intent to issue a new round of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) licenses. These licensees are designated specifically for online gambling operators and their services are required to serve an exclusively international clientele. Meaning, Philippines residents are prohibited from taking advantage of these operators’ services.
As many as 78 applications have been submitted for the new round of license issuing, but Andrea Domingo, Chair of PAGCOR, asserts that not all applicants will be granted a license to operate. Applicants are each putting up application and processing fees of $50,000 or $40,000 for either casino or sports betting operations, respectively. Should their applications be accepted, casino operators will have to pay an additional $200,000, while sportbooks will have to put up $150,000.
In a news conference held on the ASEAN Gaming Summit’s opening day, Domingo told reporters that the new round of licenses comes as an effort to meet PAGCOR’s 2017 revenue target of PHP60 billion, stating that “The POGOs are meant to safeguard the welfare of the Filipinos at the same time meet the agency’s revenue targets to help fund the government’s nation-building programs.”
Opposition
Last week an anti-corruption group, the Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM), had requested that the country’s Supreme Court put a stop to PAGCOR’s intended plans for doling out additional gaming licenses.
The group argues that the organization has no authority to regulate online gaming, as detailed by its own charter. ATM also argued that the efforts on the part of PAGCOR violate the Executive Order 13, a decree from the highest office in the country that was intended to combat illegal gambling operations.
The group said, “PAGCOR’s continued acceptance, processing, and issuance of POGO licenses, is violative of the provisions under EO 13, which specifically defined and clarified the individual authorities granted under the laws which it was created to each government agency.”
ATM has gone so far as to recommend the Supreme Court revoke all current licenses that PAGCOR has issued to operators.
Last December, a second petition was submitted to the high court regarding PAGCOR’s licensing procedures by the Union for National Development and Good Governance-Philippines.
Plans for Expansion
Pagcor Licensed Online Casinos
While the online gambling landscape remains a contentious one for regulators and anti-corruption groups, land-based gaming is getting its fair share of attention.
Cebu is one such destination that PAGCOR is eyeing as a potential location of major gaming investment. The island getaway could soon be the site of a $500 million casino and resort property. Mundaue Island has also been proposed as the site for a smaller $300 million integrated property. The two projects are the first of their kind to be considered outside the capital. Manila currently operates four such venues, with a fifth expected to be open for business by 2018.
Chairman Domingo cited Cebu as a great site for the next resort due to its preferred locality and proximity to essential services. She raised many valid points in a recent press briefing, concluding that “Cebu is the second largest metropolis in our country,” and adding that, “there are cities there near the airport where the local governments welcome casinos.”
Pagcor Licensed Online Casino Games
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Update: Bloomberg reported on November 3 that PAGCOR will allow integrated resorts in the capital Manila to accept bets online. Alfredo Lim, the corporation’s president, confirmed via text message the approval of applications from City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila, Resorts World Manila, and Solaire Resort and Casino to begin taking online wagers.
Gambling body weighs proposals
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is considering proposals to permit land-based casinos to start offering online gambling. This comes as the country’s government and casino businesses look for ways to make up for financial losses due to COVID-19.
government and casino businesses look for ways to make up for financial losses
PAGCOR confirmed in an email to Asia Gaming Brief that: “During the lockdowns this year, proposals from operators of land-based properties to accept bets online from known patrons only were received by PAGCOR.”
The requests put forward are now under consideration by the regulator’s relevant departments. No further details have been provided as yet.
A changing landscape
The allowance of online gambling within the Philippines is looking positive following the recent consideration of licensed online cockfighting (known locally as “sabong”) betting. PAGCOR CEO Andrea Domingo has stated: “PAGCOR can issue the proper regulations in order to license and legitimize operations of local online sabong.”
A potential obstacle to progress is Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Set to leave office in June 2022, he has historically been hesitant towards gambling expansion in the country. Filipino politician Hon. Gus Tambunting commented last year that the president would not allow online gambling while he was still in power.
While there are online gambling operators currently in the Philippines, they are only able to target customers outside of the country.
The aftermath of pandemic closures
Gambling operators in the Philippines have been struggling during the pandemic, which is why they are looking for any possible revenue boost.
casinos are still struggling because of lower capacity and little international tourism
Land-based casinos had to close in March as the government attempted to curb the spread of COVID-19. The facilities stayed shut until the end of August, when casinos in certain areas were able to resume business at 30% capacity and with extensive restrictions in place. Despite these reopenings, the casinos are still struggling because of lower capacity and little international tourism.
PAGCOR also closed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) for a time as a result of the pandemic, leading to significantly lower revenues for the country’s gambling regulator. PAGCOR’s monthly earnings from online operators have fallen by about 80% as regulatory fees for POGOs almost halved. About 50% of PAGCOR’s income goes towards funding public programs in the country.