Gambling Licence in the Philippines

Overview

The Philippines is one of Asia’s most established regulated gaming jurisdictions. Gaming is overseen by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a state-owned body that uniquely both operates certain venues and regulates the wider industry. PAGCOR licenses land-based casinos, electronic gaming and domestic online gaming, with electronic and online operations supervised through its dedicated licensing and regulatory departments. Important context: offshore-facing licensing (the former POGO regime) was discontinued in 2024 and subsequently prohibited by law, with existing offshore licences ordered to wind down. The viable, lawful path today is a domestic licence serving the Philippine market.

Who it suits

A PAGCOR domestic gaming licence suits operators who want to serve players inside the Philippines through e-casino, electronic bingo (eBingo), sports betting, online poker, numeric games, specialty games or land-based gaming. It is well-matched to groups willing to establish genuine local substance, including a Philippine company, local infrastructure and an on-the-ground compliance team. It is not suitable for anyone seeking to target players outside the Philippines, as offshore gaming is now prohibited.

Eligibility and requirements

Applicants must be a duly organised company registered in the Philippines and meet PAGCOR’s fit-and-proper standards. Core requirements typically include a substantial minimum paid-up capital (commonly cited from around PHP 25 million for electronic gaming, subject to the licence category and current PAGCOR rules), a detailed business and technical operations plan, demonstrated financial capacity, robust anti-money-laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures aligned with Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) obligations, and responsible-gaming controls. Beneficial owners, directors and key personnel undergo background and probity checks.

Process and timeline

The process generally runs: (1) structure and incorporate a Philippine entity; (2) prepare the application dossier with corporate, financial and technical documentation; (3) file with PAGCOR; (4) probity, background and financial vetting of owners and officers; (5) technical audit, including independent certification of random number generators (RNGs) and game software by an accredited test laboratory; (6) payment of licensing fees and issuance, followed by go-live readiness checks. Timelines vary with the licence type, completeness of documentation and audit outcomes; we provide a realistic schedule once we assess your case. Exact current figures and timelines are confirmed on request.

Costs

Costs include PAGCOR application and licensing fees, the required paid-up capital, software certification and testing fees, plus ongoing gaming-revenue-based charges. Domestic e-games operators are generally subject to a regulatory levy on gross gaming revenue alongside applicable taxes, rather than a flat conventional charge on gaming activity; current rates and fee schedules should be confirmed directly, as PAGCOR periodically adjusts them. We provide a tailored cost breakdown before you commit.

Comparison and context

Compared with smaller offshore hubs, a Philippine domestic licence offers access to a large, growing home market with strong regulatory credibility, but it demands real local presence and substance. With the offshore route closed, the domestic framework is now the only sustainable, reputation-safe option in the country. Legarithm positions you correctly from the outset, handling structuring, filing and compliance so you avoid costly missteps and align with the post-POGO regulatory direction.