PIGO Licence in the Philippines: How PAGCOR's Remote Gaming Licence Works
A PIGO licence is a PAGCOR Gaming License that lets an operator run online gaming through an accredited remote gaming platform in the Philippines.
A PIGO licence is the PAGCOR Gaming License that allows a qualified operator to run a gaming venue and offer online gaming to its registered players through an accredited remote gaming platform. Under PAGCOR's Regulatory Framework for the Issuance of Gaming License for the Establishment of Gaming Venues (Remote Games), the Gaming License covers both on-site betting and online gaming, and it is issued per game offering — a separate licence is required for each one. It is a privilege, not a contract or a property right, and it may be amended, suspended, or revoked.
What "PIGO" means under the PAGCOR framework
The framework does not use the term "PIGO." It uses Remote Gaming, defined as electronic gaming conducted at PAGCOR-licensed gaming venues outside the gaming area of a land-based casino, including online gaming or wagering offered through a remote gaming platform for the registered players of a specific gaming venue.
The Gaming License itself is the instrument issued by PAGCOR to a qualified operator for the establishment and operation of a gaming venue hosting various game offerings, including access to an accredited remote gaming platform for online gaming. In practice, this is the licence the industry refers to as a PIGO.
Who may apply
Only corporations duly registered with the SEC may apply as operator of a gaming venue. Both first-time applicants and existing licensed operators may apply. A corporation with foreign nationals as shareholders must comply with the latest Regular Foreign Negative List B of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 (R.A. No. 7042, as amended by R.A. No. 8179).
The applicant must pass PAGCOR's suitability requirements and submit the prescribed documentary requirements. Among these, the Articles of Incorporation must show that gaming is one of its primary or secondary purposes, and the corporation must have an authorized capital stock of at least Five Million Pesos (PhP 5,000,000.00) with paid-up capital of at least Three Million Pesos (PhP 3,000,000.00).
Site location rules
A gaming venue must be at least two hundred (200) meters from schools and places of worship, and at least three hundred (300) meters from other gaming venues, subject to exceptions. The distance restrictions do not apply if the proposed venue is located within a mall, a DOT-accredited hotel or resort, a PAGCOR-operated or regulated casino, a cockpit arena, or a horse racing track.
Gaming venues may be located in malls, PAGCOR-operated or regulated casinos, cockpit arenas, horse racing tracks, DOT-accredited hotels or resorts, and commercial buildings. Co-location limits apply: two gaming venues may be co-located within a mall, or three in large malls measuring at least 400,000 square meters, and three within a PAGCOR-operated or regulated casino.
How the application process works
- Secure and accomplish EG Form No. 1 (Application Form for the Establishment of Gaming Venue), available from the Electronic Gaming page at www.pagcor.ph/regulatory, and attach the required documents — location map, lease offer or title, board resolution, sworn undertaking on distance compliance, and, where applicable, a geodetic engineer's certification or DOT Certificate of Accreditation.
- Submit scanned copies to [email protected]. Hard copies must be made available to the E-Games Licensing Department (EGLD) upon request.
- Pay the initial application fee of PhP 50,000.00 within seven (7) business days upon receipt of notice, once the documents are found in order.
- Undergo ocular inspection by the PAGCOR Verification Team (PVT) to verify site location distance and area requirements.
- Comply within thirty (30) days from notice with the full documentary requirements, the proposed venue layout plan and site set-up concept renderings, a valid business permit under the applicant's name, and payment of the application fee net of the initial amount.
- Await Board approval. Compliance and payment do not guarantee approval; the grant of the licence is subject to the approval of the PAGCOR Board of Directors.
After approval: pre-operational steps
Upon approval, EGLD issues a notice of approval and prepares the Gaming License for the signature of the PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The operator then conducts pre-operational testing of its electronic gaming systems, network connectivity, and gaming terminals, and posts the Performance Cash Deposit (PCD) prior to commencing operations. The licence is released upon payment of the PCD and submission of the prescribed documents.
The operator must notify EGLD of its target opening date at least seven (7) business days in advance using EG Form No. 5. A final inspection follows, and EGLD issues a Notice to Commence gaming operations. Commencement of the gaming venue's operations is a prerequisite to offering online gaming to registered players through a remote gaming platform.
A new game offering that fails to commence commercial operations within one year from licence issuance may have its licence revoked, although an extension may be requested with the corresponding fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PIGO licence the same as a PAGCOR gaming licence? Yes. The licence that authorizes online gaming through an accredited remote gaming platform is the PAGCOR Gaming License issued under the Remote Games framework. A separate licence is issued for each game offering.
Can a foreign-owned corporation get a PIGO licence? Only SEC-registered corporations may apply. If foreign nationals hold shares, the corporation must comply with the latest Regular Foreign Negative List B of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 (R.A. No. 7042, as amended by R.A. No. 8179).
How much is the application fee? The initial application fee is PhP 50,000.00, payable within seven business days upon receipt of notice. Other fees, including the PCD, follow the latest Regulatory Framework for Fees and Rates on Gaming Site Operations.
Practical takeaways
- A PIGO is a PAGCOR Gaming License that includes access to an accredited remote gaming platform for online gaming.
- Only SEC-registered corporations may apply, and a separate licence is needed for each game offering.
- Minimum capital: PhP 5,000,000.00 authorized, PhP 3,000,000.00 paid-up.
- Site distance rules (200 meters from schools and places of worship, 300 meters from other gaming venues) apply unless an exemption covers the location.
- The licence is a privilege, non-transferable without PAGCOR consent, and may be suspended or revoked.
Primary sources
The rules discussed above are drawn from the following issuances, embedded here in full for your reference.
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.
This topic sits within our Gaming & PAGCOR Licensing practice.
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