PAGCOR would not grant iGaming license

The Philippine Supreme Court may prohibit PAGCOR to approve any more licenses.

Philippines.- Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) would not be able to grant any more online gaming licenses, as a non-government organization, the Union for National Development and Good Governance-Philippines (UNLAD), urges the Supreme Court to stop the process.

The National gambling regulator has approved over 35 offshore licenses to operate online casinos and betting websites. However, the UNLAD has introduced a petition to the Supreme Court to declare those licenses illegal, as the organisation considers PAGCOR is not authorised under the Presidential Decree 1869 to regulate the online gaming market for offshore operations.

“The Rules on Offshore Gaming approved and currently implemented by PAGCOR is null and void on the ground that PAGCOR is patently without jurisdiction, legislative franchise, authority or power to issue licenses for the opening, establishment, operation, regulation, control and management of online gaming as defined under the Rules on Offshore Gaming,” stated UNLAD’s petition.