Over 40 more online gaming operators issued licenses

On top of the 40 licenses the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) had issued to what used to be called Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and recently rebranded as internet gaming licensees or IGLs, the state gaming regulator and operator has also issued licenses to more than 40 online gaming operators for electronic gambling targeted at Filipino netizens.

- RAINIER ALLAN RONDA

PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department recently issued its list of accredited or licensed gaming system service providers that had reached up to 34 operators as of June 5.

These providers are licensed to offer a range of online betting games, such as e-casino, e-bingo, sports betting and specialty games.

The Electronic Gaming License Department noted that of the 34 licensees, 13 have yet to commence commercial operations.

Aside from the 34 e-gaming licensees, PAGCOR also has 10 “authorized online/remote gaming platform” operators that are different from gaming system service providers or e-casino operator.

The 10 are mostly online casinos of the country’s giant integrated resort casino operators or major hotel-based casino operators such as Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc., the operator of the Solaire Resort and Casino in PAGCOR Entertainment City in Parañaque City; Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., which operates the Newport Resorts World Manila in Pasay City; Stotsenberg Leisure Park and Hotel Corp., which operates the Casino Plus at Hotel Stotsenberg in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga; Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels & Resorts Inc., which operates the Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos in Poro Point Freeport in La Union and Eastbay Resorts Inc., which operates the Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos in Binangonan, Rizal.