Everything You Need to Know About Online Casino Licenses in the Philippines: A Guide to PAGCOR and Gaming Legitimacy
The online gambling space in the Philippines has grown to become a large revenue contributor, second only to taxation. According to the BSG Governor, Benjamin Diokno, “Gaming revenue has been a significant contributor to the country’s GDP, and we expect this to continue in the coming years.”
This growth can be attributed to casino-friendly government policies and an effective gambling regulatory body, PAGCOR (Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation). With a PAGCOR online casino license, the Philippines has become one of the biggest gambling hubs in Asia.
Although PAGCOR has strict gambling rules that every casino operator and gambler alike must adhere to, understanding how this licensing body works will help players stay safe while playing and also help casino operators avoid legal issues.
This article serves as a guide, giving you all you need to know about casino licenses in the Philippines. It beams its spotlight on the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), license verification, and the need for licensing.
What is a Gaming License for a Casino?
A gaming license refers to the authorization or official permit given to a gaming or casino operator to offer gambling activities to people legally. This authorization is usually given by a regulatory body. In the Philippines, the main regulatory body saddled with this task is PAGCOR, which gives licenses to both online and brick-and-mortar casinos.
According to PAGCOR’s chairman, Andrea Domingo, “PAGCOR was created to regulate and supervise the gaming industry in the Philippines, with the primary goal of generating revenue for the government and promoting tourism.”
A gaming regulatory body can decide to close down a casino if its activities are outside the legal jurisdictions in that region. For instance, about 175 land-based casinos in the Philippines have been closed due to legal issues.
Importance of a Casino Gaming License
- Security: online casino players are usually exposed to cyber fraud and unfair casino policies. The gaming license will ensure that casinos operate under strict rules to enhance the protection of their players.
- Legal Matter: when a player detects fraud in the way a casino operates, they can file a case against the casino if it is a licensed casino. To retain license and legitimacy, no casino would like to be in a legal battle because losing the case may mean losing its license.
- Transparency and Fair Play: licensed casinos are usually transparent about their policies including the terms and conditions attached to their bonuses. Regulatory bodies always check back to ensure transparency and to ensure that there is fair play.
PAGCOR License for Online Casinos
In 1977, the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation was established to oversee the activities of game providers and casino operators. Since its establishment, it has helped to curb the activities of illegal operators in the gaming industry. Gaining the reputation of one of the most formidable regulatory bodies in the industry. Its achievement quickly reached the whole of Asia making it one of the most respected and sought-after gaming licensors on the continent.
Categories of License by PAGCOR
The categories of casino license Philippines offered by PAGCOR include;
- Remote Gambling License: This is a PAGCOR online casino license offered to those online casinos in the Philippines that lack physical establishment. They only exist online.
- E-gaming License: this category of PAGCOR is offered to gaming operators online that offer games like slots, sportsbooks, poker, etc.
- PAGCOR Licensed Casinos: this is offered to hybrid casinos, those land-based casinos that have websites or platforms for online players.
Is Online Casino PAGCOR License Legit?
The simple answer is yes.
One of the questions that bug the minds of players when joining online casinos is questions about the legitimacy of the casino. The regulatory body, PAGCOR, is owned by the government, so it follows a strict government law that every casino operator must obey. PAGCOR boasts accountability and fairness in its dealings with operators.
However, some online casinos are known for being less transparent especially when it comes to terms and conditions attached to their services. These operators do well to hide their unlawful practices away from the eyes of PAGCOR to avoid legal issues. So, players need to thoroughly investigate the legitimacy of a casino and its integrity before joining.
How to Check Online Casino License
If you are doubting the legitimacy of an online casino, follow these guides on how to check online casino license Philippines.
- Go to PAGCOR’s official website and check for the casino on the list of licensed casinos. This list is updated regularly, so you will surely find the casino if it`s licensed.
- Alternatively, open the official website of the casino and check for its license information. A legitimate online casino will boldly display such information and hyperlink it to PAGCOR’s official website for easy verification.
- If you cannot locate the license information on the casino website, contact customer care and inquire about it. Unless the casino has something to hide, the team will be more than happy to provide the needed information.
- Lastly, you can check out online casino reviews on reputable websites like https://ecasinos.ph/casinos/pagcor-casinos/. On this website, you will find the correct status of any online casino in the Philippines and read unbiased reviews about them. It also lists casinos with other offshore licenses apart from PAGCOR, helping you to select the best based on your lifestyle.
Wrapping Up
Questions like what is a gaming license for a casino and whether an online casino PAGCOR license legit have been answered in this article. To clear doubt on whether to trust a PAGCOR license and how to identify a true license from PAGCOR on any casino website.
However, the online gambling landscape in the Philippines is always expanding, and new casinos are coming up. So, make it a priority to stay up to date with the PAGCOR’s list of legitimate online casinos as a player, and remember to gamble responsibly.