PAGCOR Responsible Gaming Code of Practice: Requirements for Licensed Operators

The PAGCOR Responsible Gaming Code of Practice is the minimum standard that all PAGCOR-operated and licensed gaming establishments must follow to prevent gambling addiction, protect minors, and minimize harm to players and the community. Licensed operators must comply with rules on limited access, financial transactions, fair gaming, awareness programs, advertising, facilities, staff training, support facilities, and the exclusion program. Non-compliance exposes operators to penalties under the Code and PAGCOR's Regulatory Manuals. The Code is reviewed regularly and its manuals contain the specific implementing guidelines for each form of gaming.

Who may not enter, stay, or play

Under the Code, and pursuant to Presidential Decree 1869 (the PAGCOR Charter) as amended by Republic Act 9487 and Malacañang Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2016, the following persons are not allowed to enter, stay, or play:

• 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 Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Philippine National Police
• Persons under 21 years of age, or students of any school, college, or university in the Philippines
• Persons listed in the National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP)

Financiers and loan sharks are also prohibited from roaming the gaming premises and offering loans to players. Gaming Employment License (GEL) holders are barred from playing in any gaming establishment in the Philippines. A first offense carries a six-month penalty; a second offense means revocation of the GEL.

Financial transactions, fair gaming, and advertising

Operators may not extend credit to players without premium accounts or to non-VIP customers. Banking units inside the gaming area must follow Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) prescribed transactions, and manned commercial banking facilities inside the gaming area should be limited to foreign exchange transactions only.

Game rules must be defined and game manuals approved by PAGCOR, and gaming machines must be certified by international testing laboratories.

Advertising must be socially responsible. Materials must not target or feature persons under 21, must not suggest gambling solves financial problems, and must not mislead on odds and prizes. Mandatory elements include the under-21 prohibition logo, the "Keep it Fun" slogan, and the closing line "Gaming for 21 years old and above only. Keep it Fun. Game Responsibly." Billboards must be located not less than a 200-meter radius from schools, places of worship, horse racing outlets, public markets, informal settler areas, and resettlement areas.

Awareness, facilities, and staff training

The Licensee must build awareness of problem gambling among patrons, covering its definition, signs, age restrictions, negative impacts, exclusion procedures and forms, helpline and email contacts, and contact details of therapists, counselors, or rehabilitation centers. A standard slogan must be visible in Responsible Gaming materials, and proposed layouts must be presented to the PAGCOR GLDD before publication. Signages must be displayed in conspicuous locations such as access points and toilets.

Operators must provide entertainment venues or hospitality services to encourage breaks in play, and maintain a Responsible Gaming helpdesk or kiosk inside the gaming area — conspicuously located, displaying the RG slogan, manned 24/7, and stocked with an RG representative, RG brochures, and exclusion application forms.

Training programs, symposia, refresher courses, and seminars on problem gambling must be conducted in coordination with PAGCOR. These must teach employees how to spot a problem gambler, respond to RG questions, handle confrontations with problem gamblers or relatives, and use available helplines.

Support facilities and the exclusion program

Licensees must establish complaint-resolution mechanisms through helplines, email, or a website, and maintain a Responsible Gaming Incident Record capturing the date, time, location, and nature of any reported gambling problem, the persons involved, actions taken, and referral details.

The exclusion program lets patrons bar themselves or be barred by family. Self-exclusion applicants submit a valid government ID, RG Form 2, and a 2x2 photo; they may request 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years, with the first six months irrevocable. Family exclusion may be applied for by a spouse, a child at least 18 years old, or a parent, using RG Form 3, with periods of 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years. Licensee-emanating exclusion covers offenses such as cheating, theft, use of devices to project game outcomes, possession of counterfeit chips, unlawful interference with gaming equipment, forgery, money laundering, and fraud, with periods of 1 year, 5 years, or lifetime. All exclusion orders are enforced in all PAGCOR-operated and regulated gaming facilities and posted in the NDRP.

Frequently asked questions

What is the PAGCOR Responsible Gaming Code of Practice? It is PAGCOR's set of rules and guidelines on Responsible Gaming adopted by all PAGCOR-operated and licensed entities in authorized gaming establishments, based on global best practices and treated as minimum standards.

What happens if a licensed operator violates the Code? The Code provides a Table of Penalties. For example, allowing prohibited persons such as NDRP-listed individuals or GEL holders to enter or play carries a Php100,000.00 penalty per entry or play per person, while allowing minors may result in closure of the gaming site.

How does self-exclusion work? An applicant submits RG Form 2 with a valid government ID and a 2x2 photo, choosing a 6-month, 1-year, or 5-year exclusion. The first six months are irrevocable, and the order is enforced in all PAGCOR-operated and regulated gaming facilities.

Practical takeaways

• Treat the Code as a floor, not a ceiling: it must be complied with as minimum standards, with manuals providing specific guidelines per form of gaming.
• Enforce access restrictions strictly — prohibited persons, NDRP-listed individuals, GEL holders, and financiers or loan sharks.
• Keep RG signage, the "Keep it Fun" slogan, and the 24/7 RG helpdesk visible and staffed inside the gaming area.
• Document everything: incident records, exclusion applications, and training attendance support compliance during PAGCOR review.
• Review advertising and billboard placements against the mandatory content and 200-meter location rules before publication.

Primary sources

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

Responsible Gaming Code of Practice Version 6.0Open in Law LibraryDownload PDF

IRG for the Accreditation of Problem Gambling Treatment and Rehabilitation CentersOpen 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.