How to Apply for a PAGCOR Gaming License in the Philippines

Applying for a PAGCOR gaming license in the Philippines means securing a Gaming License from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation for the establishment and operation of a gaming venue. Under PAGCOR's regulatory framework, a Gaming License is the instrument issued to a qualified Operator, and a separate license is issued for each game offering — Traditional Bingo Games, Electronic Bingo Games, Electronic Casino Games, Sports Betting, Specialty Games, Numeric Games, Online Poker Games, or any suite of games PAGCOR may allow in the future. Applications are filed using PAGCOR's prescribed license application and related forms, which are published on PAGCOR's Regulatory website and must be the latest versions.

What a PAGCOR Gaming License covers

A Gaming License authorizes the holder to establish and operate a gaming venue hosting various game offerings, including access to an accredited online gaming platform for online gaming.

The entity that receives the license is the Operator — the entity duly licensed by PAGCOR to conduct gaming operations at its authorized gaming venue using gaming technology provided by a particular Gaming System Administrator or Supplier. A Gaming System Administrator is the entity accredited by PAGCOR to provide electronic gaming services and its suite of games to licensed gaming venues, per specific game offering.

Because licenses for game offerings are issued independently and separately, an applicant should identify at the outset which game offering or offerings it intends to operate, since each requires its own license.

The application path, step by step

1. Confirm the game offering. Decide which PAGCOR-regulated game offering the venue will conduct. Each offering is licensed separately.
2. Secure the current application forms. PAGCOR has updated and published its prescribed license application and related forms on its Regulatory website. Applicants must use the latest version of the forms for applications with PAGCOR.
3. Prepare the documentary requirements. The framework refers to an Applicant's documentary requirements as prescribed in the Regulatory Framework for the Issuance of Gaming License for the Establishment of Gaming Venues, which includes notarized sworn undertakings, sworn certifications, and written disclosures.
4. Submit the application to the proper office. Licensing for electronic gaming is handled through PAGCOR's licensing structure, including the Electronic Gaming Licensing Department and the I-Gaming Licensing and Regulation Group.
5. Await evaluation and license issuance. PAGCOR issues the Gaming License to a qualified Operator. The Regulatory Framework forms part of the Gaming License issued to a qualified Operator.

Documentary and annual compliance requirements

Applicants should note that the documentary requirements in the framework are continuing obligations, not one-time submissions. Operators must submit the following to the Electronic Gaming Licensing Department on or before May 31st of each year:

• Business Permit for the current year;
• Updated General Information Sheet duly filed with the SEC (and, if a stockholder is also a corporation, that corporation's latest GIS);
• Company Income Tax Return duly filed with the BIR;
• Notarized sworn undertakings, sworn certifications, or written disclosures as prescribed in the Applicant's documentary requirements under the Regulatory Framework for the Issuance of Gaming License for the Establishment of Gaming Venues; and
• A Personal Disclosure Statement, accomplished and filed online.

Failure to submit these documents after the lapse of a sixty (60)-day grace period from the deadline results in a penalty under the Regulatory Framework for Offenses and Penalties. The Operator must also retain a copy of the ITR filed with the BIR, a Certificate of Non-filing of Annual ITR if applicable, or a valid passport, which PAGCOR may request at any time.

What must be in place before operations begin

A license is only part of the picture. Before a gaming venue may commence operations, a player registration system must be in place. The Operator, together with the Gaming System Administrator, must use a player registration system that stores player information and photographs in a database and can identify banned players in accordance with the National Database of Restricted Persons guidelines.

The Operator must also formulate and finalize its own Gaming Venue Operational Rules and Guidelines (GVORG) in coordination with the Gaming System Administrator, governing day-to-day operations in accordance with PAGCOR's regulatory framework. The GVORG must be made available to the Electronic Gaming Licensing Department or the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department – Electronic Games at any time upon request, and PAGCOR may conduct a walkthrough review of the Operator's internal controls based on the submitted GVORG.

Ongoing obligations after licensing

A licensed Operator does not simply operate freely. The framework requires the Operator to operate the gaming venue and all support facilities consistently with its Gaming License and its GVORG.

Among the mandatory provisions that must appear in the GVORG are the dress code, the wearing of uniforms and identification cards with the Gaming Employment License number prominently displayed, the option to operate twenty-four (24) hours a day, and strict enforcement of the rules on individuals prohibited from entering and playing in any gaming venue. Those prohibited from entry, stay, or play include government officials connected directly with the operation of the Government or any of its agencies, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine National Police, persons under 21 years of age or students, banned individuals in the National Database of Restricted Persons, and unregistered players.

Operators must also inform the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department – Electronic Games of their operating hours, and notify it of any change at least one day prior to implementation using the prescribed form.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a PAGCOR gaming license cost? The framework states that fees are amounts payable to PAGCOR pursuant to the Gaming License and the latest Regulatory Framework for Fees and Rates on Gaming Venue Operations. Applicants submit a duly accomplished Payment Processing Request Form and a PAGCOR-issued Official Receipt when transmitting payments. Specific rates are set in the separate fees framework.

Do I need a separate license for each game? Yes. Gaming Licenses for game offerings are issued independently and separately — a separate license is issued to the gaming venue Operator for each game offering.

Who can be an Operator of a gaming venue? An Operator is the entity duly licensed by PAGCOR to conduct gaming operations at its authorized gaming venue using gaming technology provided by a particular Gaming System Administrator or Supplier.

Practical takeaways

• A PAGCOR Gaming License is issued per game offering — plan for separate licenses if the venue will host multiple offerings.
• Always use the latest application forms published on PAGCOR's Regulatory website.
• Annual documentary submissions to the Electronic Gaming Licensing Department are due on or before May 31st, with a sixty (60)-day grace period before penalties apply.
• A player registration system and a finalized GVORG must be in place before the gaming venue may commence operations.
• Operating hours must be reported to the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department – Electronic Games, with changes notified at least one day prior.

Primary sources

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

Regulatory Framework for Gaming Venue OperationsOpen in Law LibraryDownload PDF

Memorandum regarding the Regulatory Framework for the Issuance of Gaming License for the Establishment of Gaming VenuesOpen 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.