The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reported that regulatory fees collected from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, or POGOs, have been reduced by half since the online gaming industry resumed operations in May.
Attorney Jose Tria, PAGCOR’s assistant vice president, told the Philippine Inquirer the department had previously collected monthly fees of around Php600 million (US$12.4 million) per month but that number is now closer to Php300 million (US$6.2 million) and “should have been lower if not for the minimum guaranteed fees which allows PAGCOR to impose higher regulatory fees than (the usual) 2% of POGOs’ GGR.”
POGOs were granted permission to resume operations in May following a seven-week shutdown due to Covid-19, but only 32 of 60 licensed POGOs have so far met the requirements to operate again.
