The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is undertaking efforts to privatize 45 of its casinos by the third quarter of 2025, as reported by CNN. As the regulator’s chair announced during the national budget consideration in the House of Representatives on August 14, the regulator reportedly intends to add value to more than 3,000 electronic gaming machines to benefit from the upcoming privatization.
Privatization Supporters:
On the ocassion, PAGCOR chair Alejandro Tengco reportedly said: “Definitely, my trust is to privatize the 45 casinos of PAGCOR and I’m looking at 2025 as my timeline. My goal is to increase the value of what we will privatize.” He reportedly added: ‘‘This will keep going, it can’t be stopped.”
CNN also reports that the PAGCOR chief made the statement after Parañaque’s 1st District Rep. Edwin Olivarez raised the question of the PAGCOR’s dual role of the regulator and operator. As reported, Olivarez suggested privatization of the agency based on the claim that overseas operators generate a higher revenue levels than the PAGCOR-operated casino facilities.
”Golden Egg” Claims:
On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez reportedly noted that the agency should not privatize its casinos if it expects the increased earnings in the forthcoming years. According to CNN, Rodriguez said: “It seems that everything will be in order in the coming years, so why are we going to sell the goose that lays the golden egg?” He reportedly added:“If we privatize this, then the regularity of the income will be cut short.”
During the budget consideration, PAGCOR vice president Sharon Quintanilla reportedly informed that the operator recorded a$ 1.04 billion total revenue level in 2022. As reported by CNN, the agency expects to generate $1.33 billion in revenues in 2023.
Upgrading Gaming Infrastructure:
As Asian Gaming Brief reports, PAGCOR’s chair Alejandro Tengco announced the plans to upgrade the agency’s gaming infrastructure already at the ASEAN Gaming Summit held in March 2023. He told the source that the agency will upgrade more than 3,000 electronic gaming machine units and update the technical standards regarding these machines to meet the privatization requirements.
Dual Role Issue:
Addressing the question of PAGCOR’s overlapping role of the regulator and operator, Tengco reportedly said that “its operations have been the subject of scrutiny by key decision makers and by major gaming industry players, which see the agency as having an unfair advantage over its licensees.”
The same source reports that the chair argues that the privatization of PAGCOR’s casino operations is “at the forefront of its masterplan” with the agency set to have ”a purely regulatory role” in the future. He reportedly added: “By focusing on its regulatory functions, PAGCOR will be able to avoid the complexities of running two different shows. It can also streamline its processes and create more revenues that will fund more high-impact government projects.”
The legal status of online casinos in India is complex and varies by state. While there is no federal law that explicitly addresses online gambling, the legality depends on state regulations and the type of gambling involved.
Key Points:
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No National Law: India does not have a specific national law regulating online casinos. However, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 prohibits operating physical casinos and gambling houses, but it doesn't cover online platforms, leaving a legal grey area for online gambling.
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State-Specific Laws: Some Indian states, like Goa, Sikkim, and Daman, have legalized land-based casinos, and others, such as Sikkim, have also licensed online gambling. Many states have banned gambling altogether, including online gambling.
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Online Sports Betting: Betting on sports, particularly cricket, is very popular in India. However, it's only explicitly legal in some states like Sikkim and Nagaland, which have laws permitting online gaming and betting.
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Legal Gray Area: Many international online casinos accept Indian players and operate legally under licenses from offshore jurisdictions (like Curacao or the UK Gambling Commission). As long as players are gambling on licensed platforms, the risk is minimal, but local authorities may still choose to regulate or restrict online gambling.
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Cryptocurrency: Some Indian players prefer using cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin) for online gambling, as it provides a layer of anonymity and security.
While online casinos aren't explicitly legal across all of India, many international casinos accept Indian players, and online gambling continues to grow in popularity. Players should ensure they use licensed platforms and understand local laws before engaging in online gaming.
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