State-owned gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has showed that it’s miles taking felony movement in opposition to 33 of its offshore gaming licensees.
PAGCOR stated that the operators have been given licenses all through the preceding administration, however have now no longer paid license costs for over a year, in violation of Section 4.C of the Offshore Gaming Regulatory Manual.
These license costs presently quantity to P2.02 billion (approx. €33 million).
“Because of this situation, we’re duty-sure to take a felony direction of movement,” stated PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco. “We are actually withinside the technique of amassing pertinent statistics to report suitable instances in opposition to them.”
While 5 of the 33 unnamed operators have already close down, Tengco warned the closing operators that their refusal to abide with the aid of using Philippine legal guidelines and pay the authorities what’s due can be handled in court.
“PAGCOR will retain to make certain that every one our regulated gaming entities – inclusive of offshore gaming operators and carrier providers – will abide with the aid of using our regulatory policies, inclusive of right fee of costs and taxes,” he stated.
Earlier this month, PAGCOR introduced plans to introduce a brand new regulatory framework for offshore gaming licensees, as a part of the regulator’s intensified efforts to cope with unlawful sports being connected to offshore gaming operations withinside the country.