Industry
March 27, 2023
Calls to Shut Down POGOs Highlight Need for Stronger Gambling Regulation
ASGAM reported that the move is aimed at addressing concerns about tax avoidance and crime related to offshore gaming. Senator Gatchalian Calls for New Regulatory Body to Oversee Philippine Gambling Sector Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Philippines Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means, has called for the establishment of a new regulatory body to […]
Casino
March 23, 2023
Philippines Looks Harder at Suspicious Junket Transactions in New Report
The study’s broader scope is an attempt to better understand the money laundering and terrorist financing failings in the casino sector, and specifically the junket sector. The majority of those originate in casino junket operators, the AMLC argues, with the study flagging multiple transactions that should have been reported but hadn’t. Junket Operators Feed Operators […]
Casino
March 22, 2023
Razon’s Bloomberry Resorts Withdraws Investment in Uy’s PH Resorts
Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the operator of Solaire Resort & Casino in Manila, announced in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Philippines that its investment pre-agreement with PH Travel and Leisure Corp was terminated. Term Sheet Termination The filing with the SEC confirmed the news that the board of billionaire Enrique […]
Industry
March 22, 2023
PAGCOR Considers Privatizing Its Casinos
Alejandro Tengco, the chairman of the Philippine gambling regulator PAGCOR, has ambitious plans to privatize the PAGCOR casinos. If the authority proceeds with these plans, it will be able to dedicate all its efforts to regulatory affairs. Currently, the PAGCOR serves both as a regulator and operator. However, this dual purpose seems to be straining […]
Legal
March 13, 2023
Cotabato City Halts Lotteries in the Wake of Recent Murder
The murder of a young woman has shocked the Philippines. Rizia Mae Pardillo Ycot, 24, was serving her shift as a Small-Time Lotteries (STL) vendor in the city of Cotabato City when she got shot in the head by a heinous criminal. The suspects are the criminal gangs running illegal lottery operations. STLs are legal […]
Legal
March 10, 2023
PAGCOR Terminates Contract with Auditor That Provided Fake Documents
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the body responsible for regulating gambling in the Philippines, is terminating the contract of one of its partners. As announced by the authority, it will no longer be working with Global ComRCI, a third-party POGO auditor. Global ComRCI was responsible for probing the businesses of Philippine Offshore Gaming […]
Casino
March 7, 2023
Okada Manila Kidnapping Results in Five People’s Arrest
The male victim of the abduction was released with the incident taking place at Okada Manila where he was being held hostage. The perpetrators were aged between 24 and 36 according to local media reports. Okada Manila Becomes Scene of Abduction Upon investigating, police found out that the abductors had forced the man into the […]
Casino
February 22, 2023
Philippine Casinos Can Expect Moderate Boost from China
The note focuses a big part of its report on Bloomberry Resorts, the company behind Solaire Resort, which is expected to soon release its full-year results for 2022 and the last quarter of the year. According to the note, Bloomberry can expect to see its gross gaming revenue increase by another 9% in 2023, and […]
Legal
February 8, 2023
US SPAC Firm Starts Legal Action against Okada Manila
The lawsuit was filed on February 2 in the Delaware Court of Chancery and calls for the prompt consummation of the merger, which was initially agreed upon in October 2021. Universal Entertainment to Review Lawsuit Amidst Merger Extension The ultimate parent company of Okada Manila, Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp, has stated that they will carefully […]
Industry
February 3, 2023
PAGCOR Poised to Return to Pre-Pandemic Results, Says CEO
Commenting on the latest results, PAGCOR chairman and chief executive, Alejandro Tengco, suggested that the gambling industry in the country could see a return to its pre-pandemic levels before long, and possibly this or next year, although no specificity on the timeline was offered. The Worst Is Behind, Economic Boon Is Ahead Tengco spoke in […]
