PAGCOR Application Kit Requirements in the Philippines: What Applicants Must Submit

Applicants file PAGCOR applications using the specific form for their venture — EG Form No. 1 for a gaming venue, Form No. TGD-1525 Part I for a poker room, or Form No. EGLD-1011 for service provider accreditation — with the initial documentary requirements attached. Clear scanned copies go by email to the PAGCOR unit handling the application; original and notarized documents follow to the Electronic Gaming Licensing Department (EGLD) at the MET Live Building, Pasay City. Incomplete applications are returned without action, and acceptance of a site does not guarantee approval — the grant of a Gaming License remains subject to the approval of the PAGCOR Board.

Which PAGCOR application kit applies to you

PAGCOR does not use a single kit. The form depends on what is being applied for:

• Gaming venue (remote games). Use EG Form No. 1, the Application for the Establishment of Gaming Venue (Form No. EGLD-415). Applicants choose between a Standard Gaming License (SGL) and a Unified Gaming License (UGL). An SGL covers a specific game offering, and a separate application is required for each offering; a UGL covers all game offerings the applicant intends to operate.
• Poker room. Use Form No. TGD-1525, Part I, the Application Form for the Establishment of Poker Room. Part I covers the initial site evaluation only.
• Service providers. Use Form No. EGLD-1011, the Accreditation of Service Providers Application Form, for Gaming System Service Provider or Data/Content Streaming Provider accreditation.

Documentary requirements for a gaming venue

The initial site requirements for a new gaming venue, as listed in the application form, are:

• Location map of the proposed site showing distances to schools, churches, and existing or approved PAGCOR-EGLD licensed gaming venues
• Copy of the lease offer, Transfer Certificate of Title, or Declaration of Real Property (tax declaration), as applicable
• Original and notarized Board Resolution or Secretary's Certificate designating the authorized representative to submit the application and transact with PAGCOR
• Original and notarized Sworn Undertaking confirming due diligence and compliance with distance requirements
• Original and notarized certification from a duly licensed Geodetic Engineer confirming that the venue, classified as a commercial building, complies with site location distance requirements (if required)
• For venues inside a hotel or resort, a copy of the applicable Department of Tourism (DOT) Certificate of Accreditation
• For PAGCOR-operated casinos only, a favorable endorsement from branch management

Applicants must also disclose the nearest schools, places of worship, and gaming venues with their corresponding distances. The form states that this disclosure is required of applicants with proposed gaming venues situated in commercial buildings, pursuant to the Regulatory Framework for the Issuance of Gaming License for the Establishment of Gaming Venues. The specific article and section number of that framework is not reproduced in the application form itself, so applicants should refer to the framework's own text for the exact provision.

Documentary requirements for a poker room

Part I of Form No. TGD-1525 requires a location map showing distances to schools, churches or places of worship, and existing or approved PAGCOR gaming establishments, plus an approved or as-built plan of the building, complex, or arcade as needed. The applicant also declares the type of establishment — mall, arcade, general or commercial building, or DOT-accredited three-star hotel or resort — and lists the establishments operating within the complex.

A key timing rule: LGU documents are not submitted with Part I. Applicants must not secure them until advised by the Table Games Department (TGD) to proceed to Part II. Part I is valid for six months from that advice. Once advised, the applicant must submit the accomplished Part II and the required Council Resolution within 30 days; failure means the next application within the distance restriction may be advised to proceed instead, under the "first to complete requirements, first to be recommended" policy.

Documentary requirements for service provider accreditation

Form No. EGLD-1011 requires a company profile, a detailed location sketch of the office and live studio set-up, SEC registration documents, the latest General Information Sheet, a valid Mayor's Permit or business permit, and a BIR Registration Certificate.

Several submissions must be notarized: a written disclosure of capability to provide the services; a disclosure of material events in the past five years (bankruptcy petitions, convictions, restrictive court orders, and gaming law violations); and a disclosure that the applicant is not an affiliate of an existing service provider under the same category. A business plan detailing the prospective gaming operations is also required.

For Gaming System Service Providers, the form requires a capitalization of PhP100 Million authorized capital stock and PhP25 Million paid-up capital stock, an original bank certification showing a minimum of PhP50 Million, and notarized disclosures on IP blocking and server location. For Data/Content Streaming Providers, a duly executed Service Agreement with a PAGCOR-accredited Gaming System Service Provider or Operator is required, among other submissions.

How to file: step by step

1. Confirm the correct form for the venture and review the applicable guidelines — for gaming venues, the Procedural Guidelines Requirements for Gaming Venues; for poker rooms, Annex A of Form No. TGD-1525.
2. Complete the form. Type or print all required information. Incomplete applications are returned without action.
3. Email clear scanned copies of the accomplished form and initial documentary requirements to the address indicated on the form — for gaming venues, eGaming_Licensing@pagcor.ph; for poker rooms, poker@pagcor.ph.
4. Submit original and notarized documents to the EGLD office, 10th Floor, MET Live Building, Central Business Park 1-A, Macapagal Boulevard corner EDSA Extension, Pasay City.
5. Pay applicable fees using the Payment Processing Request Form (EG Form No. 2) for gaming venue applications.
6. Wait for evaluation. PAGCOR may request additional information, and the grant of a license remains subject to the PAGCOR Board's approval.

Note the cut-off times: 3:00 P.M. for poker room applications and 4:00 P.M. for service provider accreditation forms.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit my PAGCOR application by email? Yes. Clear scanned copies of the accomplished form and initial requirements are submitted by email. Original and notarized documents must still be delivered to the EGLD office.

Does PAGCOR require an LGU permit with my poker room application? No. LGU documents are not a requirement in Part I. Do not secure them until the Table Games Department advises you to proceed to Part II.

Does an accepted site mean my application is approved? No. Acceptance of the proposed gaming venue does not guarantee approval. The grant of a Gaming License is subject to the approval of the PAGCOR Board.

Practical takeaways

• Match the form to the venture: EG Form No. 1 for gaming venues, Form No. TGD-1525 for poker rooms, Form No. EGLD-1011 for service provider accreditation.
• Incomplete applications are returned without action, so complete every field and attachment before filing.
• Notarized documents — board resolutions, sworn undertakings, and disclosures — must be original when submitted to the EGLD office.
• Poker room applicants should not secure LGU documents until advised to proceed to Part II, and should watch the 30-day submission window.
• Site acceptance and document submission never guarantee approval; the PAGCOR Board decides on the license.

Primary sources

The rules discussed above are drawn from the following PAGCOR issuances, embedded here in full for your reference.

Application Form for the Establishment of Gaming Site (Poker)Open in Law LibraryDownload PDF

Accreditation of Service Providers Application FormOpen in Law LibraryDownload PDF

Data/Content Streaming Provider Permit to Hold Application FormOpen in Law LibraryDownload PDF

Application for the Establishment of Gaming VenueOpen in Law LibraryDownload PDF

This article is general information and not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer or ask ASG Legal AI.