Peter Unabia, currently a House Representative for the Philippines, has proposed an $80 entrance fee for citizens of the Philippines who plan to play in casinos.
Currently, there are no entry fees for people who want to play in casinos, according to the PAGCOR charter (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation).
The Corporation has established its own system for controlling and managing players. It includes minimum bets, release of cards that track the betting activity of players, and, lastly, placement of the casinos in areas where strapped-for-cash players cannot engage in betting in luxury resorts and hotels with no less than three stars.
Mr. Unabia wants to further change the gambling, particularly betting legislation, by making certain amendments to the Presidential Decree No. 1896, such as amendments to decrees 1632, 1067-C, 1399 and 1067 A and B, which are all related to the franchise operations licensed by PAGCOR. He further complains of PAGCOR’s inaction despite the fact that PD No. 1896 states that Filipino players must have a proof of having at least PHP50,000 for their previous fiscal year. The proof must be confirmed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
An expert look at the 2014 gambling changes in Vietnamese legislation
Vietnam, another Asian country which has legalized gambling, has entered a draft bill which includes provisions that require any investor, who plans on entering a major investment project, to provide a proof of possessing the financial capabilities of US$4 million, in order to ensure that they can maintain their financial stability throughout the time-frame of the project.
Augustine Ha Ton Vinh, president of Stellar Management and a Vietnamese professor, pointed out that the decree should be designed in such a way so to ensure that it would help the country’s gaming industry to attract more foreign and local investors.
He also added that foreign investors appreciate the Vietmanese government’s effort to open the country to the gambling industry. This, however, might turn out to be difficult considering the country’s regulations and the current international industry standards. A good example is the draft submitted by Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s Ho Tram Strip, where licensing went through without similar regulations. Investors interested in establishing Vietnam-based casinos will probably find the 2014 amendments of the legislation unappealing.
Another flaw in the bill is Article 10 of the last decree draft which states: ‘Vietnamese aged 21 and above with competence as defined by Vietnamese law can enter and play in casinos that are allowed to accept qualified Vietnamese.’ It can be seen as a step forward toward allowing Vietnamese citizens to enter casinos, yet the term is vague and may convey dual meaning. Mr. Vinh explained that it is impractical to assess a person on his or her financial capabilities before allowing them to enter a casino.
The professor added that the government should step down and be open for suggestions of international experts, or learn from the success stories of other regions around the world which have shown interest in expanding their gambling industry.
Mr. Vinh has been part of various management teams in the gambling industry obtaining technical and managerial expertise. He has specialized in regions such as the Asian-Pacific, West African and European obtaining over thirty years of practice in economic development studies, institutional reforms and cross-lateral projects financing.
