The Philippines does not prohibit gambling among Filipinos. However, the country’s government is stringent when it comes to illicit gambling business, whether it be physical or online. Thus, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is authorized to legitimize gambling businesses, and so far, there are only 17 licensed service providers.
Those who bet on illegal gambling sites are subject to reprimand under the Republic Act No. 9287. It states that the penalty for violators is “imprisonment from thirty (30) days to ninety (90) days” and a fine of up to P6000.
R.A. No. 9287 was enacted to enforce the laws declared by Presidential Decree 1602. By passing the law, it re-defined what games are considered illegal, such as Jueteng, Masiao, and Last Two. Pusoy, Tong-its, and e-sabong are also banned.
There is also an Anti-Illegal Gambling Board, acting as the central authority to carry out the law. Its scope of power is:
- Assist authorities in enforcing R.A. No. 9287.
- Deputize governors, city mayors, and law enforcement agencies to probe suspected illegal number game operators and players.
- Act as the complainant against criminally-charged violators.
- To come up with strategies and programs to eradicate unlawful gambling.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is authorized by R.A. No. 10927 to order locally-based casino business owners to have risk management policies and a record of their players for at least five years. The AMLC can also investigate them for suspected terrorist financing or money laundering.
Also, note that the legal age to gamble in the Philippines is 21. So if an online casino player registers at 18 years old, they must wait three more years to be allowed to place bets.
To avoid violating the law, here are some recommended online casino sites you can visit:
OKBET
Founded in 2021, OKBET is a well-known operator under Kingwin Ventures Inc (formerly Ekxinum Inc). It offers only the best online entertainment, thanks to its group of qualified and experienced experts.
The popular casino offers various services, including live casino through their www.okbetcasino.live, card games, slot machines, sports betting, and many more. Furthermore, the fourth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is sponsored by OKBET, strengthening its legitimacy.
InPlay/InstaWin
Inter-active Entertainment Solutions Technologies, Inc. (IEST) operates this e-casino. Permitted by PAGCOR in November 2020, it offers over 200 games, not including live casino and sports betting.
FastWin
FastWin is under Kirschner Games International (KGI) and boasts a gaming platform made by various game developers.
eGames
Launched by one of the industry’s leaders, PhilWeb Corporation, eGames offers casino games from not only ordinary gaming providers but from world-leading. The company also has over 80 casino outlets across the country offering popular slot games, video poker, and other specialty games.
So far, eGames have three online casinos: Magic Macau, Viva Las Vegas, and Monte-Carlo.
Conclusion
Gambling is allowed in the Philippines, but with limitations. Also, the government cannot entirely abolish casinos or gambling houses because the industry is the third-leading source of revenue for the nation. Unfortunately, illegal gambling houses are still rampant, which could mean one thing: stricter laws in the coming years.
