Offshore-based online gaming operators may now apply for gaming licenses from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. “They shall be referred to as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO),” PAGCOR said.
According to GMA News, offshore gaming licenses can be issued to Philippine- and offshore-based operators in any foreign country, but Philippine-based players will not be allowed to gamble.
PAGCOR will need the revenue. It recently dismantled its domestic e-Gaming and e-Bingo industries, forfeiting an estimated P10 billion in annual revenues. On order from new President Rodrigo Duterte, the regulator chose not to renew its licensing deal with PhilWeb Corp., which ran more than 280 e-Games outlets or internet cafes exclusively dedicated to casino games.
According to GMA, the application and processing fees for offshore gaming licenses will come to $50,000 for e-Casinos and $40,000 for sports betting. “Upon approval of the license, the applicant will pay $200,000 for an e-casino license and $150,000 for a sports betting license,” PAGCOR said.
“Authorized players of these offshore gaming offerings must be foreigners based in another country. Foreign nationals who are staying in the Philippines and Filipinos residing abroad are not allowed to take part in the online gaming activity,” PAGCOR said. “Likewise, individuals who are under 21 years old are not allowed to play.”
The body will create a “Task Force POGO” to monitor the gaming activities “composed of key personnel from PAGCOR, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Immigration.”
According to the Philippine Inquirer, offshore gaming licenses are “a non-transferrable privilege and not a vested right, and may be suspended or cancelled at any time” at PAGCOR’s pleasure. Revoked permits will not be transferable.
PAGCOR recently ordered that 53 Bingo Bonanza and electronic games sites run by subsidiaries of Leisure & Resorts World Corp. be shut down for good. The regulator said affected outlets violated guidelines requiring them to be at least 200 meters from schools and churches. Leisure World said it would appeal for reconsideration of the decree.
“Should reconsideration be not given, we will transfer the electronic bingo operations at said sites and transfer the same to compliant locations,” LWRC said.
ABS-CBN News reports that PAGCOR has rejected a proposal by PhilWeb Corp. to spin off its gaming cafe operations into a text lottery. PhilWeb has informed hundreds of employees they must go on “forced leave” as the company tries to remain solvent. Up to 6,000 people could be unemployed if the company dissolves completely.
“I sympathize with the affected employees but there is nothing that I can think of that we can do for them,” said PAGCOR Chairwoman Andrea Domingo. “Although they can apply and qualify to fill up any of our job vacancies in our office.”
