Philippines Expands its Online Gambling Service

Posted: January 18, 2010

Updated: October 4, 2017

According to Philippine gambling laws, the only company allowed to offer gambling services to players in the Philippines is the Philippine Amusement

According to Philippine gambling laws, the only company allowed to offer gambling services to players in the Philippines is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). PAGCOR is owned and controlled by the government, and holds a strong monopoly over all gambling in the country. While PAGCOR has offered limited online gambling services in the past, the company just unveiled a new site that seeks to expand the company’s online offerings.

The Philippines is actually home to dozens of online casinos and other internet gambling websites, but most of these sites cater exclusively to players in other countries, and cannot be accessed by locals. This new site, called E-Games Online, is operated by PhilSeb Homeplay, Inc., a Philippine company that specializes in internet gambling operations. PhilWeb already works with PAGCOR to provide a massive network of electronic gambling cafes across the country.

This new online gambling site in the Philippines was created to help PAGCOR maintain its monopoly over gambling in the country – a task which can be difficult when it comes to gambling online. Instead of trying to prevent Filipinos from using offshore gambling websites, the government is trying to provide local players with an attractive alternative. “This is an important step in fulfilling Pagcor’s mission to deliver secure, legal, fair and convenient games of chance to adults throughout the country,” said Dennis O. Valdes, PhilWeb president.

E-Games Online does have a certain amount of local appeal, since it caters specifically to Filipino players. The site even accepts local credit cards, and players can even make deposits in person at certain offices across the country. Many players, however, still choose to use one of the many other internet gambling sites that accept players from the Philippines – these sites offer more variety and a different level of services than what PAGCOR delivers.

Tags: