Gambling in the Philippines: History of Filipino Casinos
Gambling is a very popular sport in the Philippines. You might think gambling is illegal or it is a sin, but the activity has been in the Philippines for decades, and it is legal. The Philippines is now called the gambling center of Asia, and the Filipino casinos are getting poured with money from Foreign for many days. If you are interested in gambling or want to know more about it, you have come to the right place!
The Beginning of Casinos in the Philippines
To know the history of gambling Philippines, you might have to trace it back to the sixteenth century. China and the Philippines were nearby, and the Chinese people used to go to the Philippines for business and trading. It is said that the Chinese people first introduced gambling in the Philippines in the sixteenth century.
Throughout the time, the authority tried many ways to limit such activities in the Philippines, but all in vain. In the end, they started recognizing the potential of the industry in helping the economic development of the Philippines.
Some of the Popular Gambling Games in the Philippines
If you are interested in gambling you might have known some of the games already. Let’s dive into the gambling industry and see which games are most popular among people –
- Cockfighting
You must have seen cockfighting in films or videos. In Cockfighting, two cocks, who have been carefully bred, fight with each other, and people bet on which cock will win.
After the fight, the winning team consumes the losing cock, which is generally dead most of the time. The winning cock is treated with medicine and proper care.
- Online Casinos in the Philippines
Philippines online gambling is as popular as other on-site gambling. You can search for the best Philippines online casino on Google and see the list of casinos and how they are making so much money.
But there is a catch! Outside the Cagayan Freeport, online gambling is legal but restricted only to gaming parlors with e-gaming licenses.
In Cagayan Freeport, these limitations are not there. According to the gambling law Philippines, online casinos are legal, and local and international operators receive permits. But the local gambling stations may not allow the locals to play in their stations. However, the residents can access international sites.
- Table Games and Casino On-Site gambling
There are various casinos in the Philippines where you can engage in activities for entertainment and win money. You may have heard about the center of gambling in the Philippines – Resorts World Manila. Solaire Resort and Casino is another place that is very popular among the players. It has been a dream of many people to visit these casinos once. Casino games involve gaming devices, card games, etc.
- Sweepstakes
Lotteries are something which many people must have played at some or other time. Yes, it is also a demanding gambling option, and here, the winner gets the entire prize which is a huge amount of money.
Generally, there are six numbers drawn by the host, and the person who gets to match all the numbers wins. The prize money generally depends on the number of people who participated in the game, but it can not be denied that the prize money is no joke.
Gambling Laws in the Philippines
Even if gambling is legal, in the Philippines, various laws are there to protect the players and the gaming stations. The Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) was created to license the whole industry and use the money they were getting from the gambling industry in Governmental works. Let’s check what the laws are to follow if you play in one of the stations in the Philippines.
- PAGCOR was introduced in 1975 by President Ferdinand Marcos, which denotes which gambling activities are legal and which are illegal. All the legal stations have their personalized license, and you can perform gambling legally only there.
- Republic Act No. 10927 states that all gambling stations must have the records of their customers for 5 years.
- If someone is regulating an illegal gaming station, they can be behind bars for 30 days to 20 years, according to the Republic Act (No. 9287).
- If you are 21, you can legally participate in gambling activities throughout the Philippines. But in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone, the legal age for participation is 17.
Hence, if you are planning to open a casino in the Philippines or want to play in the gambling stations there, you must follow all the rules and regulations mentioned above.
How to Get the Payment in Filipino Casinos?
The payment options in Filipino Casinos are very easier to access –
- Debit or Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard, and American Express all cards are allowed, and the balance needs not to be very higher. Apart from these, prepaid cards can also be used as debit cards.
- Cryptocurrency
You have heard about Cryptocurrency, but its use of it may seem to be very difficult for you. Well, it is not at all difficult. Using cryptocurrency comes with many benefits, like getting the payment on the same day you win, there are no additional charges, and sometimes there are bonuses as well.
- Electronic Wallets
Electronic Wallets work as normal banking accounts only, but here you do not have to put any personal information. So, it is best if you want to play anonymously.
The Bottom Line
The Philippines is a good destination, and it is getting more popular day by day because of its attractive gambling stations, which are popular worldwide. But you have to remember gambling is addictive, and sometimes it leads to a severe loss of money if you are not being careful. You can definitely participate in gambling for entertainment purposes, but you should definitely follow all the rules and be careful while playing, only then you will be able to enjoy the most of it.
Author bio
James Warner is a content manager and editor at CasinoHEX Philippines. He has been working for about 6 years at casino sites that helped him to gain relevant experience in the gaming market and online gambling industry.
