History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines
- History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Pesos
- History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Government
- History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Today
- History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Immigration
Illegal gambling ‘rife’ in South DESPITE the massive crackdown on illegal gambling implemented by the Philippine National Police in the southern part of Metro Manila, illegal gambling operations continue and appear to have expanded, according to some sources. Tougher Philippine gambling laws should scare more people away from illegal activities and in turn create more revenue for the casinos and the government. Illegal gambling has always plagued the Philippines, expect to see more tough laws come into play until the government sees a dramatic drop in illegal gambling activities.
There are many different types of illegal gambling, and some gambling activities may be legal in one context but not another. Often, different areas have very different rules about what types of gambling are allowed, sometimes resulting in a concentration of gambling facilities in certain areas. Certain types of gambling may be illegal in an area, or the game must adhere to certain regulations in order to be legal. Illegal gambling often takes the form of otherwise legal games put on in illegal venues, which complicates the issue even further.
One of the most common types of illegal gambling involves games that may otherwise be legal in illegal venues that do not have permission from the state to operate. This may include card games, video poker machines, and even simple games involving coins and dice. Generally, informal games between friends are seen as different than underground gambling rings, but in certain cases even social poker games played for money can be seen as unlawful gambling. When a game is not run with the explicit permission of the government in the form of licenses and other documents, it is generally considered illegal.
Certain types of gambling activities are illegal in many areas no matter who is in control of the venue. For example, cock fighting and dog fighting are often illegal because these games are considered unsafe and cruel to animals. Most games that involve animal death or injury are against the law, but betting on games like bull fighting, dog racing, or horse racing is usually considered a different category of activity.
There are a variety of illegal gambling activities that do not involve playing games but rather predicting the outcome of future events in the public sphere like sports games. Any activity can become a gambling activity of this type, including elections, award shows, and the weather. Sports games are usually considered the most popular because there is an element of chance involved in all games. People who take and give out money for this type of gambling are sometimes called bookies, and in some areas must register with the government in order to be legal.
At different times and in different places, various gambling activities have been against the law. In some areas, all games involving the exchange of money are considered illegal, and in certain religious areas, any activity that resembles gambling even without money involved is questionably legal. Illegal gambling can take nearly any form, so long as money or other resources can be exchanged. Certain types of hidden illegal gambling can be very difficult to catch or identify, but all forms involve financial risk of some sort.
I was recently talking to a friend in the UK who was considering retiring to the Philippines. I mentioned that I had lived there for a while and intended to retire in the Philippines in the future. However, he confided in me that he had one nagging doubt – he loved to gamble online almost every day, but he had heard that it was illegal in the Philippines.
I knew from experience that this couldn’t possibly be true, and my time running Gamblerspro.com told me there were many Filipinos searching for online gambling sites. What I found is that my expat friend was indeed incorrect. Gambling is legal in all forms in the Philippines, but that the reason for his confusion was several pointed statements made fairly recently by President Duterte.
So, what’s the deal with gambling in the Philippines? Is it legal? Is it safe? I’ll share what I found out here.
A Quick History of Gambling in the Philippines
History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Pesos
When I first moved to the Philippines, one of the first things I noticed was the prevalence of gambling in the culture. Since I come from a part of the world where gambling is taboo, I was mildly shocked by how many casinos I encountered, how many people I saw wagering small sums of cash and cigarettes on card games and Mahjong, and by just how much cash changed hands at local cockfights.
It turns out that gambling has a long history in the Philippines. Antonio Pigafetta, who visited the Philippines with Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century, made reference to how fond Filipinos are of gambling in his diaries. So, gambling goes back a long way on the archipelago.
Although the Spanish tried to stamp it out, even calling it a “consuming cancer” they clearly did not succeed, and gambling is alive and well in the Philippines today.
History Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Government
Yet, in recent times, President Duterte has taken a hardline stance on illegal online gambling operators. This was the source of my friend's confusion. He mistakenly believed that Duterte had declared online gambling illegal, but as you’ll soon see, that’s not the case.
Is Gambling Legal in the Philippines?
All forms of gambling are legal and regulated in the Philippines. This includes casino games, sports betting, poker, and lotteries.
However, in order to operate a legal gambling enterprise, a license must be obtained from the appropriate government department.
So, which department is in charge? That depends on what sort of operation it is.
- Casino Games – These are regulated and licensed by PAGCOR, which is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. This organization also regulates poker and bingo.
- Sports Betting – ICLG claims that PAGCOR regulates sports betting in the Philippines, while Wikipedia claims it falls under the purview of the Games and Amusement Board. This requires clarification, but either way, it’s clear that betting on sports is legal and regulated.
- Lotteries – Lotteries are regulated by PCSO – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The above forms of gambling are all legal and regulated. Profits derived from them are spent on national development and welfare programs.
Several games of chance exist in the underground gambling market in the Philippines, including Jueteng, Masiao, and Last Two. These are numbers games which are played on the street all across the country. You won’t find them in legit casinos, though.
Online Gambling In the Philippines
So, it’s clear that most forms of gambling in the Philippines are legal with the exception of a few games. Why then had my friend thought otherwise?
It turns out that President Duterte has made a few flamboyant statements about gambling in the Philippines. He has stated that he would “suppress” the online gambling industry and, a statement translated from Tagalog to English he stated that:
“To hell with the contract [held by locally licensed operators], I told you I do not want gambling, period.”
While an outright ban has not happened, a major crackdown on illegal online gambling operators has, and several arrests and deportations have occurred.
Perhaps Duterte has realized that it’s better to effectively tax the many Philippines Overseas Gambling Operators (POGOs) rather than chase them out of the country? Since they contributed P3.13 billion to the national coffers in 2017, that’s probably a wise move.
Philippines Gambling – Summary
In conclusion, all forms of gambling are alive and well in the Philippines. Gambling generates vast sums of money in the economy, and one only has to visit any large or medium-sized city in the country to find a Casino Filipino or one of its rivals.
Online gambling is also legal. Despite Duterte’s threats to squash it, it’s thriving, and expats and locals alike can play casino games, bet on sports, and enjoy poker tournaments without fear of punishment.
Just don’t try to stream a live roulette game from your webcam without a POGO license. And to my friend, when you read this, go ahead and retire in the Philippines – you’ll love it, and nobody will jail you for playing cards or betting on the horses!