The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the country’s gaming regulatory body, has approved a plan by sports betting operator MegaSportsWorld (MSW) to launch a remote gaming platform.
“We are delighted with this initiative by PAGCOR,” said MSW Managing Director Jeff Mann. “It will be the first time MSW, in its 12-year history, will be able to provide our verified customers a fully regulated, online option in addition to our successful bricks-and-mortar offering.”
According to Inside Asian Gaming, the service will fill in gaps caused by Covid-19, allowing bettors to legally place sports wagers in spite of shutdowns and restrictions. Spikes in viral cases continue to restrict land-based gaming industry across much of the Philippines, particularly Metro Manila, home of the Entertainment City casino zone.
“Like everyone else, we have taken a major knock to our business during the past 16 months due to various Covid-related issues including extensive community lockdowns and restrictions,” said Mann. “But we are now in a ‘build back’ mode with an aggressive investment and five-year expansion plan now in place. This online offering comes just at the right time and compliments our leadership position in the market.”
Prior to the pandemic, MSW operated through 70 outlets across the Philippines and also offered a phone betting proxy service for VIPs. The company has a new flagship outlet at City of Dreams Manila and existing outlets at Resorts World Manila, the Winford Hotel and Casino in Clark and a number of PAGCOR-operated casinos.
Mann said MSW’s only online competitors “are the illegals who have become especially aggressive during Covid. Now with MSW going online for the first time, it puts us on a level playing field with these cowboys. MSW’s long standing reputation in the market combined with what will be a trusted online offering can only take back lost market share from the illegals and help grow the market even further.”
In 2020, PAGCOR approved Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGO), in which casino operators can be licensed to offer iGaming. Philippines gaming and IT solutions provider DFNN reported its online PIGO platform InPlay.ph enjoyed “undeniable success” after recording gross gaming revenue of PHP113.9 million (US$2.3 million) in the first six months of 2021, including PHP99.9 million (US$2.0 million) in the second quarter.
DFNN became the first company issued with an online gaming license by PAGCOR under its PIGO scheme, introduced in November to shore up gaming operations during Covid-19 closures.
