The gambling laws in the Philippines do not prohibit players from participating in online gambling at licensed offshore gambling sites. This was clarified by a court ruling in 2012 in which the judge stated that there is nothing in the laws of the land that make it illegal for residents to place bets online. While the laws in the Philippines generously allow offshore online gambling, the legal minimum gambling age still applies to this type of gambling entertainment. That means that if an online casino or poker site allows players to register at age eighteen, Filipino players must still wait until they are twenty-one years old to place bets at. People of the Philippines, G.R. 183879, April 14, 2010) The elements of estafa in general are the following: (a) that an accused defrauded another by abuse of confidence, or by means of deceit; and (b) that damage and prejudice capable of pecuniary estimation is caused the offended party or third person.

On this page, you will find access to information about the different regions of the Philippines, including an up-to-date and accurate look at the legal casino market within each of them. While most gambling laws are the same throughout the country there are multiple regulators and not every region applies the same policies or features the same types of gambling options. This resource guide will take you on a journey throughout the Philippines and provide insight regarding the various forms of entertainment and gambling opportunities across the islands. We will include information about where you can find legal casinos in the Philippines and which licensed online casinos to accept Filipino players from the various regions. We suggest you use these pages as a guide and to assist you in your search for gambling entertainment in the Philippines.

National And Regional Gambling Laws

Domestic gambling is legal across the Philippines on the federal level. There are two distinct regions set up by the federal gambling laws to govern the industry across the Philippines. Most of the country is governed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), while the Cagayan Valley is governed by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). While they follow the same federal laws pertaining to gambling in the Philippines, the two authorities have complete control over their assigned regions. These gambling authorities have the power to establish their own regulations but must abide by national Philippine gambling laws. Online gambling is also legal when played from an offshore legally licensed and regulated online source. Since a lot of the Philippines is rural, online casinos, online sportsbooks, and online poker rooms are a main source of entertainment.

Philippines Regions Offering Legal Casino Gambling

Below are the regions that have significant gambling operations. These pages will serve as a gambling entertainment guide for their specific regions while highlighting certain aspects unique to the region.

Metro Manila

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Metro Manila is the largest area in the Philippines with the most casinos. More than 20 casinos attract tourism and provide a significant source of revenue for the country. There is also a number of MegaSportsWorld retail locations for residents and visitors seeking brick-and-mortar bookmakers. Multiple forms of gambling are legal in the area, including casino gambling, Filipino friendly online casinos, domestic poker rooms, Philippines legal online poker, horse race betting, online sports betting sites accepting Filipino bettors, lottery and more.

Cagayan Valley

The Cagayan Valley consists of several rural communities and farmlands. There are a few coastal cities that are set up to be tourist destinations with nice beaches and moderately sized hotels. Santa Ana is the only Cagayan Valley city that currently has land-based casinos and since 2010, Filipino's have been allowed inside to play. Online gambling, online sportsbooks and all other forms of online wagering are legal for Cagayan residents as long as they play sites not located or licensed in the Philippines. Our regional pages will explore all legal gambling options for the Cagayan Valley and the rest of the Philippines.

Philippines Regional Casino Gambling FAQs

Can individual regions in the Philippines establish their own gambling laws?

No, there are two agencies that can establish the gambling regulations in the Philippines (CEZA & PAGCOR) to better their communities and enforce the law but both are government owned and follow federal gambling laws set forth by the Philippine Congress.

Who regulates regional legal casino gambling in the Philippines?

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) regulate casino gambling for their designated regions. PAGCOR covers 90-95% of the country, while CEZA regulates the Cagayan Valley.

Why are there two gambling regulators in the Philippines?

There are two regulators because, in 1995, the Office of the President and Congress enacted Republic Act 7922 and created the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). PAGCOR was originally from this area too but since the creation of CEZA, the authority has been given to them to make the Cagayan Valley a self-sustaining economic region and to attract foreign investments, trade, and tourism.

Does PAGCOR have authority over CEZA since it controls more area and has been in power longer?

No, CEZA has control of their own region and PAGCOR has no control over them or the Cagayan Economic Zone. While they are a lot smaller than PAGCOR, CEZA was set up to develop their own rules and regulations concerning gambling in the Cagayan Valley. Both corporations are owned by the Philippine government.

Is online gambling legal in both CEZA and PAGCOR regions?

Yes, online gambling is legal on a federal level when played via offshore licensed and regulated sites. Both regulatory agencies now license online gaming entities but will not allow their licensed gaming sites to accept Filipino players. Players are only permitted to play offshore legally sanctioned gambling sites that are not located or licensed within the Philippines. This rule applies to Philippine friendly mobile casinos as well.

The Philippines is an interesting market for online gambling.
The country is divided into two distinct regions for gambling
purposes. First, there’s the majority of the country in which
gambling is tightly controlled by the state-owned Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). PAGCOR operates all
land-based casinos, and betting outlets across the country.

Locals are welcome to play at approved PAGCOR locations and
online for some forms of gambling. Filipinos can also visit any
of the numerous PAGCOR betting terminals across the country and
are free to gamble online at offshore websites.

The laws for online gaming in the Philippines are a bit odd.
In both regions of the Philippines, it’s illegal for any
independent operator to offer online betting to locals. However,
offshore providers with no connection to the Philippines may
offer their services to the Philippines.

In short, there are two different sets of laws (or lack of
laws) in play here. Citizens of the Philippines are not subject
to any laws that ban online gambling. There was considerable
debate on the legality of placing bets over the internet, but a
court ruling in 2012 found that there was no piece of language
in Philippine law that made it an offense to place bets. So,
citizens are free to play wherever they want.

Operators must play by a whole different set of rules. Any
online gambling site licensed in the Philippines is restricted
from offering its services to Filipinos. This has created a
situation in which PAGCOR has a monopoly on land-based gambling
but is cut off from its own market online.

Cagayan Freeport and Online Gambling License

The second “region” is the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and
Freeport which most people just call “Cagayan Freeport.” This is
the only area in the Philippines not under complete control of
the PAGCOR monopoly. In the Freeport area, there are numerous
independent casinos that are allowed to offer their services to
tourists only.

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Cagayan Freeport also acts as an online gambling licensing
jurisdiction. In fact, it’s the only such jurisdiction in all of
Asia. A Filipino gambling license is hard to get and does not
allow operators to accept wagers from Philippine citizens, but it’s valuable nonetheless. A license there grants access to the
greater Asian area, which is a booming and untapped market.

PAGCOR issues the licenses and monitors all existing
licensees for compliance. Any limited company interested in
getting a license can apply for one. The application itself
costs $40,000 and then there’s a $48,000 fee for the first year
once approved. Licenses are renewed each year after that for
$60,000 per year.

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License holders can offer their services to anyone outside
the Philippines and may take advantage of the country’s highly
developed internet infrastructure. The close proximity of the
Philippines to the rest of Asia and its high level of
development make it an attractive base of operations for any
company interested in tapping the Asian market.

All game systems must be tested and approved, and the company
must keep an adequate amount of cash on hand to cover all player
balances. The licensing commission is strict on these rules, and
it does a good job of enforcing the regulations.

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If you are interested in more information about the licensing
situation in the Philippines or the different regulations set in
place you can always check out the website for the Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Also, if you want a direct
answer on a specific question you can contact them through phone
or email. All of this information can be found below: