Casinos with a Philippines Gaming Licence in 2024
PAGCOR is known for its strict regulatory framework, ensuring a safe, transparent, and fair gaming environment for operators and players alike. It has overseen the domestic market since 2007 and is now considering entering the rapidly growing world of crypto casinos. We provide detailed information on Philippine casinos and explain the regulatory structure that governs them.
Best PAGCOR Licensed Casinos for December
| Wagering requirements | 35x deposit + bonus |
| 40x free spins winnings | |
| Minimum deposit | C$30 (C$15 for Bonus Crab) |
| Maximum bet | C$7.5 |
| Bonus validity | 10 days to wager |
| 24 hours for free spins |
- Free spins are provided as a set of 20 per day for 10 days.
- Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify.
| Wagering requirements | 35x deposit + bonus |
| 40x free spins winnings | |
| Minimum deposit | C$30 |
| Maximum bet | C$7.50 |
| Bonus validity | 10 days to wager |
- Free spins are provided in a set of 20 per day for 10 days.
- Neteller and Skrill deposits don't qualify for the bonus.
| Wagering requirements | 35x deposit + bonus |
| 40x free spins winnings | |
| Minimum deposit | C$30 (C$15 for Bonus Crab) |
| Maximum bet | C$7.5 |
| Bonus validity | 10 days to wager |
| 24 hours for free spins |
- Free spins are provided as a set of 20 per day for 10 days.
- Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify.
Pros and Cons of Online Casinos Licensed in the Philippines
Possession of a valid gaming licence dictates to the licensed casino which regulations must be adhered to and implemented. Player protection measures, particularly economic requirements, must also be adhered to.
To explain the Philippine casino licence in more detail, we show all the advantages and disadvantages of the PAGCOR licence:
- Allows playing with cryptocurrency
- Accessible worldwide
- Flexibility in bonus design
- Wider game selection
- Strict regulatory framework
- Comprehensive player protection measures
- Regular audits and compliance checks
- Very transparent and professional authority
- Still not many licensed casinos
- Players must be at least 21 years old
- Licence issuance less transparent
- Greater personal responsibility for players
Benefits of the Philippines Gambling Licence
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) licence is highly sought after for its robust regulatory framework and the thriving gaming industry it supports. Licensed operators benefit from government support, tax incentives, and access to a skilled workforce.
The Philippines' strategic location in Asia provides a gateway to the lucrative Asian market, and the licence's international recognition further enhances its appeal. With a strong focus on transparency and player protection, PAGCOR ensures a secure and trustworthy gaming environment.
- Trustworthiness: Thorough licensing process ensures credibility.
- Government Support: Policies favoring industry expansion offer significant advantages.
- Favorable Tax System: 5% Franchise Tax on gross revenues replaces other taxes.
- Qualified Workforce: Access to skilled labor with strong English proficiency.
- International Recognition: Globally acknowledged, enhancing credibility.
- Improving Infrastructure: Investments in infrastructure and reliable internet connectivity support seamless online operations.
Our strict criteria
We openly explain how we test and assess casinos independently, even though we make money through this method. Our team of experts from around the world focuses on quality rather than quantity. This means we only mention and list the casinos that pass our security checks and meet our standards. Since 2018, you have trusted our opinion because we prioritize providing our community with the highest safety standards.
Who Issues The Philippines Gaming Licence?
The Philippine regulatory authority is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). It is 100% subordinated to the Philippine state and acts on behalf of the Philippine Congress.1
In 2008, Congress adopted the PAGCOR Charter2, granting the organization the right to operate safe and reputable licensing for the government for 25 years. Thus, PAGCOR will manage the gambling regulations there until at least 2033.
Here is a table with key facts at a glance:
| Authority: | Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (kurz: PAGCOR) |
| Founded: | July 11, 2008 (Duration 25 years) |
| Basis: | Republic Act No. 9487 (June 20, 2007) |
| Chairman / CEO: | Alejandro H. Tengco |
| President / COO: | Wilma T. Eisma |
| Address: | PAGCOR CORPORATE OFFICE MET LIVE BUILDING Central Business Park 1-A Macapagal Boulevard cor. EDSA Extension Pasay City 1300, Metro Manila |
| Contact: | [email protected] |
PAGCOR not only issues licences but is also the operator of domestic casinos in the Philippines.
- NORTH LUZON CLUSTER
- Casino Filipino Angeles
- Casino Filipino Ilocos Norte
- Casino Filipino Olongapo
- NOTHR LUZON METRO MANILA AND BULACAN CLUSTER
- Casino Filipino Malabon Grand
- Satellite Operations Group 4
- SOUTH METRO MANILA AND CALABARZON CLUSTER
- Satellite Operations Group 2
- Casino Filipino Tagaytay
- VISAYAS – MINDANAO CLUSTER
- Casino Filipino Cebu
- Casino Filipino Bacolod
- Casino Filipino Grand Regal
Tourist Add-ons, so-called “Satellite Casinos”:
- METRO MANILA
- Adriatico Satellite
- Binondo Satellite
- Citystate Satellite
- Grandz Satellite
- Kartini Satellite
- Madison Satellite
- Manila Grand Opera Satellite
- Midas Satellite
- Networld Satellite
- Oriental By The Bay
- Tropicana Las Piñas Satellite
- Tropicana Sta. Mesa Satellite
- LUZON
- Cagayan Valley Satellite
- Calamba Satellite
- Capital Satellite
- El Rancho Satellite
- Greenery Satellite
- Leisure World Satellite
- Oriental Pavilion Satellite
- Oriental Pearl
- Premiere Satellite
- Subic Bay Yacht Club Satellite
- Town Center Satellite
- Venezia Satellite
- VISAYAS & MINDANAO
- Apo View Satellite
- Fuente Satellite
- Grand Imperial Gensan Satellite
- Grand Imperial Opol Satellite
- Iloilo Satellite
- Mactan Satellite
- Mactan Isla Satellite
- Mandaue Isla Satellite
- Tagum Satellite
- Talisay Satellite
Licensing Procedure for Online Casinos in the Philippines
First and foremost: The Philippine licensing authority is extremely transparent and professional. The website is very detailed, and all business reports3, organizational charts and other informative internal information are publicly available.
The licence allows the offering of live casinos, random number generator (RNG) games such as slots and table games, and sports betting. The Philippine casino licence is valid for 24 months and must be renewed every 2 years. It cannot be transferred to third parties.
PAGCOR Gambling Licence Requirements
Philippine casinos must be divided into land-based and offshore/online casinos when issuing licences. This section is dedicated to the requirements for online licences (Internet Gaming Licence).
The established Internet Gaming Licensing Regulations of July 12, 20234, state that Filipino casino licence applicants can come from domestic and foreign countries, provided they use the services of a Philippine company. This can be a local agent, a content agency, a game provider, or a support company.
Holders of an Internet Gaming Licence from PAGCOR must meet the following basic requirements:
- Good reputation in terms of character, honesty, and integrity
- No connection to a person with a poor reputation in the above points or financial problems
- Registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Financial stability and solid corporate structure must be demonstrable
- Must not be subject to any bans or penalties
To demonstrate these points, licence applicants must follow these steps:
- Letter of intent to the Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR
- Application letter must be notarized
- SEC registration or foreign equivalent must be provided
- Business plan including corporate statutes must be submitted and explained in detail
- Financial resources must be demonstrated: At least 100,000,000 Philippine Pesos (€1,591,432) in share capital and at least 25,000,000 Philippine Pesos (€397,858) in paid-up initial capital
- Foreign capital is limited to 40% (with a few exceptions)
- Company profile and structure must be transparently presented, including an organizational chart with all involved persons, positions, and full names
- Proof of a lease or ownership of the company headquarters
- Compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing plans
- All holders of C-level positions or board members must fill out and notarize a PAGCOR personal data sheet (PDS)5
- Evaluation by an accredited examiner of the Offshore Gaming Licensing Department (OGLD)
- Business registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
- Proof of payment of the application fee
- Declaration of compliance with all security regulations
- Declaration of an authorized representative
These points are complemented by other topics where licence applicants must explain and authorize themselves. This list shows the most important areas.
Prohibitions and Restrictions of the Philippines Gambling Licence
- Philippine citizens and/or residents in Philippine territory are excluded from playing
- Licensed website must be blocked within the Philippines
- Players under 21 are not accepted
- Free demo versions are prohibited without a player account
- All company employees must be over 18 years old
- All employees in contact with games (live dealers, croupiers, etc.) must be over 21
Costs and Fees
In addition to the licence for casino operators, PAGCOR issues several other licences for gaming agents, auditors, and other positions relevant to the licensing apparatus. This section focuses on the costs and fees of the casino licence itself, i.e., the B2C part of the Filipino licence.
- Application costs: $100,000
- Monthly fees:
- either 2% of Gross Gaming Revenue (total income minus total payouts)
- or $100,000
- If operating own live tables, monthly fees depend on the number of tables
- Additional costs may arise per square meter if company premises are in the Philippines
- A deposit of $300,000 must be made before the licence is issued as a “performance guarantee” and can be retained if the licensee does
Many requirements may serve players
What stands out to me is that PAGCOR demands a lot. This includes detailed information and high fees. This creates a barrier to entry and deters unreliable operators right from the start. This is an important and good point for players.
Are PAGCOR Licensed Online Casinos Safe?
The Philippine gambling authority does many things well: This includes licensing online casinos by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and subjecting all other actors in the licensing cosmos to the authority's scrutiny. This includes:
- Game manufacturers (gaming content providers)
- Auditors and reviewers (local gaming agents/authorized support providers)
- Quality officers (independent testing laboratories)
- Identity verifiers (probity checkers)
Other instances, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are also important in the licensing process. This ensures a four- or even six-eye principle, which aims to guarantee the operation of reliable online casinos. Due to the associated transparency, the Philippines casino licence makes a very good and safe impression.
Casino Games at Philippine Casinos
The Philippine licence excludes no relevant casino game types from online casino operations. The only prohibited game form is Jai Alai, irrelevant to the European market. The licence also allows sports betting.
This means dual player accounts can continue to be used, allowing deposits and withdrawals for both casino games and sports betting.
Top Payment Methods at Philippines Online Casinos
Most importantly, Playing with cryptocurrency is allowed under a Philippines licence. Once the first crypto casinos switch to the licence, the exact structure and implementation of other payment methods at Filipino online casinos will become apparent.
Dispute Resolution
No matter how well a provider has been checked in advance, problems or discrepancies can always arise. If there are issues that you cannot resolve directly with the casino or if you need to make an official complaint, you can contact PAGCOR directly via the contact form. Due to the strict licensing criteria and the deposit of a guarantee, casinos will take action when the licensing authority intervenes.
When discussing issues with casinos in live chat, save the chat history via screenshot. This way, you can provide evidence if you need to contact the authority later.
Recent Developments in the Philippines Gaming Industry
The Philippines continues to establish itself as a hub for online and land-based gaming, with PAGCOR playing a pivotal role. In Q3 2024, PAGCOR reported a significant increase in gaming revenue, reflecting the industry's growth and resilience.
For a detailed look at how PAGCOR's strategies contributed to this revenue surge and its impact on the local gaming market, read our full coverage here.
Conclusion
Since the authorities in Curaçao changed their regulatory requirements, the gambling landscape has been reorganizing. This means that licensing authorities that were previously not on the radar now see an opportunity.
The Philippines, with its robust regulatory framework and favourable business environment, presents a compelling alternative to the Curacao gaming licence. PAGCOR’s commitment to transparency, player protection, and comprehensive regulatory oversight ensures a secure and trustworthy gaming experience.
The strategic geographic location, government support, and tax incentives make the Philippine gambling licence an attractive option for operators. As the online gambling landscape continues to evolve, the Philippine licence stands out as a strong, credible choice for both new and established operators.
We believe that we will hear and see much more from the Philippine licence in the future, and we will update our list as soon as a crypto casino obtains it.
FAQs
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) issues the casino licences. The Philippine government owns the corporation and has been responsible for all gambling-related issues at home and abroad since 2007 (updated in 2008).
Yes, the Philippine Internet Casino licence allows gambling with cryptocurrency. Sports betting with crypto is also possible.
The Philippine licence requires online casino operators to do a lot of preparatory work and comply with economic requirements. Various fees are also payable. The barrier to entry is therefore higher than with other licences – which makes gaming more monitored and safer overall.
Sources
- Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Accessed on 27.06.2024. https://www.pagcor.ph/index.php.
- Philippine Congress. "Republic Act No. 9487 / An Act Further AMending Presidential Decree No. 1869, otherwise known as PAGCOR Charter". Accessed on 27.06.2024. PDF. https://www.pagcor.ph/transparency/docs/ra-9487.pdf.
- Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. "Transparency Seal". Accessed on 27.06.2024. https://www.pagcor.ph/pagcor-transparency-page.php.
- Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. "Internet Gaming Licensing Regulations". Accessed on 26.06.2024. PDF. https://www.pagcor.ph/regulatory/pdf/offshore/Internet-Gaming-Licensing-Regulations.pdf.
- Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. "Personal Disclosure Sheet (PDS)". Accessed on 27.06.2024. PDF. https://www.pagcor.ph/regulatory/pdf/offshore/Personal-Disclosure-Statement-for-Key-Officers.pdf.
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