PAGCOR online casinos are websites created by foreign companies where games like roulette, slots, and card gambling games can be played virtually. As we know too well, they operate under the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) license and are trustworthy but only available to foreigners. Let’s understand what Pinoy players can play legally and how to still enjoy the best out of online casinos!
Can Filipinos Play on PAGCOR Online Casinos?
Filipinos are not allowed to play on online casinos licensed by PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to operate as POGOs within our country. Although counterintuitive, the rationale is simple: those companies can come to the Philippines, run their business, and pay taxes to the government while profiting from players from all around the world.
Pinoy players cannot spend their money, so the government is only benefitting from players from abroad. Fortunately, that does not exhaust our alternatives, and besides land-based casinos, we can still play on online casinos operating from abroad, like:
250% Slots Bonus Up to ~ 71,500 PHP!
- Incredible bonuses
- Regular RTP update
- Instant deposit methods
100% Bonus Up to 86,000 PHP + 150 Free Spins!
- Odds above the average
- Many betting lines
- Local payment methods
What Is a POGO License?
A POGO license is the authorization to operate an online casino from the Philippines, allowing the offer of many forms of gambling to foreign players. Without it, any operator of an online casino in the Philippines is considered to be acting illegally.
What Are the Rules and Characteristics of POGO Casinos?
The PAGCOR online casinos, or POGOs, operate under the strict rules of the Offshore Gaming Regulatory Manual. Of course, among the must-follow rules in the regulation, it is explicitly prohibited to allow Filipinos to gamble on those sites.
Even Filipinos who are in other countries are not allowed to play on them. Also, under that license, the licensed casinos cannot be played by anyone in countries where online gambling is not allowed.
The requirements to operate under a POGO license and become one of the PAGCOR online casinos duly licensed in the country are rigid. The companies must pay fees and regular taxes, prove they are trustworthy, and show sufficient stability.
We do not intend to, and probably could not, cover all the requirements and rules applied to PAGCOR online casinos. After all, those are more relevant to the companies than to players, and we are not allowed to play on them anyway. Instead, we need to play on online casinos provided from abroad and not licensed as a POGO.
What Are the Trusted Alternatives to PAGCOR Casinos?
According to the Philippine gambling laws, we can play online casinos from the Philippines, but they cannot be POGOs and definitely not be headquartered in our country. There is a good number of high-quality casinos to play that way, which we have tested and approved ourselves:
100% Bonus Up to 86,000 PHP + 150 Free Spins!
- Odds above the average
- Many betting lines
- Local payment methods
If you are not sure about how to begin, check our beginner’s guide on how to play online casinos.
The Role of PAGCOR in Licensing and Regulating Casinos
Given that the Philippines wanted to benefit from the huge number of online casino players in the world, it opened for companies who wanted to explore that activity. The PAGCOR is the entity responsible for activities connected to gambling, and every country which legalized gambling needs an agency to control and regulate licensed companies.
Therefore, it is a separate corporation, still 100% owned by the government of the Philippines, to accompany gambling in all its forms, including online casinos. It guarantees that the websites operate according to the local rules and laws, both for granting and allowing the maintenance of the license, and acts against illegal activities.
Statistics and Facts About PAGCOR Online Casinos
- There were 35 offshore licensed POGOs in the Philippines as of May 2023.
- Even PAGCOR online casinos headquartered outside of our country are prohibited to us.
- The e-casino license is specifically to live casino games and games of chance.
- Residential spaces are seeing an increase in market price due to the presence of POGO companies.
- Filipinos cannot enter PAGCOR online casinos.
- Licensed POGOs employ hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers in the Philippines.
- The PAGCOR accounted for total revenue of P17.70 billion in the first quarter of 2023 alone, a new record.
Are PAGCOR Online Casinos at Risk?
PAGCOR online casinos are, in great part, supported by the close relationship between the Philippines and China. Chinese corporations who own online casinos and the employment of hundreds of thousands of Chinese people in the operation of POGOs give us an idea of the importance of that partnership for PAGCOR online casinos to function properly.
Still, there is no clear sign that the operation of PAGCOR online casinos could be at risk at the moment. While we are not allowed to play on those websites, it is still important that they stay active because our government benefits a lot from their fees and taxes. As long as they do not act against our right to play on foreign online casinos with no local license, we have nothing to worry about.
