The Philippines’ gaming regulator contends that restarting online gaming as well as VIP casino operations can help the country fund its battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
Andrea Domingo, head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), has asked the government’s Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to lift the suspensions on “high-earning” gaming operations including Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which serve clients in other countries, including mainland China.
Domingo compared POGOs to business process outsourcing (BPO) operations that have been permitted to continue operating on a work-from-home basis, according to CalvinAyre.com.
The PAGCOR chairwoman also wants to resume VIP casino activity, whether in person or via proxy betting, in which wagers are made by phone. Domingo insists even live VIP operations can take place using social distancing protocols, since high-roller tables usually accommodate only one or two players at a time.
