The Philippine gambling regulator (PAGCOR) has issued around 35 online gambling licenses for offshore operations, industry insiders have reported. It is yet to become known how many of the new licensees will actually operate offshore gambling businesses in the Philippines.
Online gambling in the country was severely attacked by newly sworn Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. President Duterte took office in mid-2016 and from the very first day of his tenure declared a war on practices he considered detrimental to society. The Philippines’ top official was not as harsh on iGaming as on other social ills he launched a crackdown on, yet he expressed vocal determination to “destroy” certain individuals related to the local gambling industry.
One such individual was Roberto Ongpin, founder of one of the leading operators of iGaming cafés in the Philippines – PhilWeb. Mr. Ongpin was declared an oligarch and PhilWeb was denied a renewal of its iGaming license. As a result, its facilities were had to close down.
President Duterte has pointed out numerous times that there was no room for online gambling in the Philippines as it brought serious social ills upon residents. It seems that his position against online gambling has softened a bit as it has become clear that the country would lose a great amount of revenue as a result from the iGaming parlors’ closures.
PAGCOR announced in September that online gambling operators would be able to apply for licenses to operate offshore businesses. In other words, they would cater for non-Filipino gambling customers located outside the country. Non-Filipinos residing or visiting the Philippines and Philippine citizens located abroad will not be able to participate in the activities offered by the offshore licensees.
The applicants for licenses were required to pay $50,000 for online casino operations and $40,000 for sports betting operations. In addition, being licensed means that they will have to pay another $200,000 or $150,000, respectively.
PAGCOR will be charged with monitoring the activities of the approved licensees. The regulator will be authorized to suspend or cancel any offshore gambling license if it founds that its holder has violated the Philippines’ regulations and/or any of the conditions attached to its license.
