Philippines halts issuance of new online gaming licences – report

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the country’s gambling regulatory body, has suspended the process of applications for online gaming licences in the country, following negative comments about the market from President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to local media outlet the Manilla Bulletin, Andrea Domingo, who was recently appointed as chair of Pagcor, said in a radio interview that online gambling has expanded in recent years and Pagcor is keen to slow this trend.

Data from the Philippines government shows that under the country’s previous administration, there had been surge in cafes equipped with computers that run online poker, slots, lotteries, bingo and table games.

Between June 2010 to this month, the number of e-bingo machines has grown from 2,160 to 12,000, while the amount of active e-games cafés has jumped from 190 to 277.

“For now, we will freeze the issuance of licenses for these types of games, and then review what the President said,” Domingo said.

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