Philippines strikes new blow at gaming

The Philippines and gaming have been in the spotlight recently and now President Rodrigo Duterte has declared PCSO games illegal.

The Philippines.- President Rodrigo Duterte has had the Philippines in the spotlight for gaming news outlets for a while. He announced his most recent blow over the last few hours, as some games have been deemed illegal.

The Philippine head of state targeted the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) due to “massive corruption.” That’s why he has banned all gaming schemes operated by them.

“All gaming activities, gambling, that got their franchise from the government through PCSO are suspended or terminated,” he said. “[Starting July 27] all transactions and gaming, [the] wager of bets, becomes illegal.”

“I have to do it. I will not honour transactions that are clearly on the side of, you know, scheming people, the Republic of the Philippines, of the money due it. It’s all cheating. And the contracts seem to be crafted in favour of corruption and to favour other corporations and people. I will not allow it,” the President stated.

People “engaged in gambling activities in connection with the franchises, licenses, concessions granted by the PCSO,” will be arrested.

Reconsidering casinos

The Philippine government seems to have opened up to casinos after a short struggle. President Duterte is open to lifting the ban on the entry of new venues in the country.

This week, Duterte asked Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairperson Andrea Domingo to encourage more gaming. He did so during his fourth State of the Nation Address.

“That would be the logical consequence of what he said,” spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on the ending of the ban.