The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has confirmed it’s getting into the online casino business. According to Inside Asian Gaming, the portal will open to players in early 2024 under the “Casino Filipino” brand. The country’s gaming regulator operates land-based casinos and satellites under the same brand.
According to a statement issued by PAGCOR on July 20, “casinofilipino.com” will open by the first quarter of next year. It will use virtual-reality technology to simulate a physical casino space, and “allow players to interact with the digital counterparts of traditional casino games,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco.
“It will also transcend physical boundaries and will enable users from around the world to interact and participate in virtual environments. It can reach a global audience and can establish a presence in virtual communities of avid gamers. It will likewise offer an opportunity to tap into new markets and diversify its customer base.”
Tengco said the online casino will increase government revenues, expand the market for gaming and “enhance customer engagement.”
He did not say if PAGCOR plans to divest of the brand as part of a current plan to sell its physical casino assets. As part of those privatization efforts, PAGCOR also confirmed it was in the process of modernizing its slot machine operations to help sustain growth momentum.
“We have already taken the preliminary steps and entered into negotiations with different manufacturers for the modernization of our slot machines,” Tengco said.
“We expect our customers to have a renewed gaming experience as we endeavor to enhance our game offerings by replacing our old machines with a total of 3,500 brand-new units of Electronic Gaming Machines under a lease agreement between PAGCOR and the manufacturer.”
The modernization plan also includes the development of the state-run gaming and regulatory firm’s Information Technology programs and systems to help finetune PAGCOR’s Casino Management System.
“This will play a pivotal role in improving PAGCOR’s casinos in terms of operational efficiency, enhancing customer experience, facilitating real-time reporting and analytics, ensuring security and fraud prevention, optimizing financial management and streamlining compliance requirements,” Tengco explained.
In related news, lawmakers and law enforcement continue to work to uncover and root out illegal offshore gaming operations known as POGOs. In recent raids of POGO facilities, police have rescued hundreds of alleged victims of human trafficking. According to Asia Gaming Brief, a number of senate members have said crimes linked to POGOs could dampen the willingness of investors to do business in the country. Many legislators have called for a complete shutdown of offshore operations.
