Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation

Not to be confused with Games and Amusements Board. "PAGCOR" redirects here. For the observation tower in Manila, Philippines, see PAGCOR Tower.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
Company typeState-owned
IndustryCasino
FoundedJanuary 1, 1977 (1977-01-01)
HeadquartersIMET BPO Tower, Roxas Boulevard, Metropolitan Park, Central Business Park 1-A, Pasay, Metro Manila
Key people
  • Alejandro Tengco (Chairman and CEO)[1]
  • Wilma Eisma (President and COO)
Revenue ₱285.27 billion GGR[2][3] (2023)
Number of employees
11,000+
Websitewww.pagcor.ph

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR; Filipino: Korporasyon sa Libangan at Palaro ng Pilipinas)[4] is a Philippine government-owned and controlled corporation serving as the country's gaming industry regulator, as well as owner and operator of a network of casino branches in key cities under the brand name Casino Filipino.

Excluded from PAGCOR's mandate, however, are the operation of lotteries by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the regulation of horse betting by Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

PAGCOR was established in 1977 through Presidential Decree No. 1869.[5][6] It is the Philippines' third largest contributor of government revenue, after the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs. The corporation is under the Office of the President of the Philippines.[7]

History

The corporation was created during the Martial Law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr via Presidential Decree No. 1067-A issued January 1, 1977. This was in response to calls for the government to stop the growing proliferation of illegal casino operations in various parts of the country.[8]

The first casino by PAGCOR was the Manila Bay Casino opened in 1977. It was a floating casino which operated on the ship MS Philippine Tourist and was gutted by fire in 1979.[9][10]

PAGCOR shifted its focus to land-based casinos and entered into another contract with PCOC for the management of a casino at the Provident International and Resources Corporation (PIRC) building in Parañaque, Metro Manila.[11]

Presidential Decree No. 1869 issued in 1983 mandated PAGCOR to act as the government corporation conducting and establishing gaming pools and casinos nationwide.[5][6] In 1986, it was re-established and reorganized by President Corazon Aquino as a new PAGCOR to help raise funds for the government; Norberto Quisumbing was appointed as its first Chairman, followed by the former Development Bank of the Philippines Chair Alicia L. Reyes as its Chair and CEO. Reyes was succeeded by Ephraim Genuino under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2001.

In June 2007, Republic Act No. 9487 gave PAGCOR another 25 years to regulate and operate games of chance, to issue licenses, and to enter into joint venture, management, or investment agreements with private entities for Entertainment City in the Manila Bay area, Parañaque, and in Newport City, Pasay, in particular.[12] Chairman Genuino successfully attracted investors to the project to put up Las Vegas-style integrated resorts. Two integrated resorts opened on November 1, 2014.

In 2016, during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, PAGCOR began regulating offshore gambling hubs in the form of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), although these hubs have already been operating discreetly since 2003.[13]

PAGCOR announced that it will launch a global-facing online casino in early 2024 under its Casino Filipino brand.[14]

In August 2024, Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen granted Yeng Guiao's 2016 mandamus nullifying the Ramos-era PAGCOR memorandum. It directed PAGCOR to remit 5% of its gross income per year to PSC from 1993.[15] In December 2025, the high court affirmed the decision.[16]

Branding

The current logo of PAGCOR was adopted on July 11, 2023, in commemoration of its 40th anniversary.[17] According to Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco:

[The] logo incorporates the element of fire associated with energy, inspiration, passion, and transformation. It symbolizes the flame that ignites change and drives progress. The logo likewise reflects a beacon which symbolizes guidance, leadership, and direction. It represents a guiding light that helps people find their way. All these taken together, [it] reflects PAGCOR's long standing commitment of being a guiding force that illuminates the way forward, drives transformation and development, and brings inspiration and motivation to the lives it touches.[18]

The logo generated criticism and debate on social media platforms, with some comparing it to the logo of the unrelated Petron Corporation.[19][20] The rebranding and fallout did not affect PAGCOR operations, as it posted record high earnings of ₱410 billion in 2024.[21]

Operations

PAGCOR operates its own casinos and several VIP slot clubs in major cities across the country. It also oversees and regulates privately owned casinos, more than 180 bingo parlors, as well as e-games cafes across the country.[7] The company employs more than 11,000 workers.

Casino Filipino

Casino Filipino (CF) is a casino chain operated by PAGCOR.[22][23]

Casino Filipino has two main branches in the Manila districts of Malate and Santa Cruz. It also has major branches in Angeles City, Bacolod, Cebu City, Davao City, San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte, Iloilo City, Olongapo, and Tagaytay. PAGCOR also maintains satellite casinos under the Casino Filipino brand.[24]

The Airport Casino Filipino in Parañaque was a former major branch which closed in 2014.[25][26]

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators

Main article: Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator

In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 started the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) program under PAGCOR to allow online gambling in major cities.[27]: 102  PAGCOR issued licenses to be used for service providers to offer online gambling.[27]: 102  Most of the companies which obtained POGO licenses were Mainland Chinese, and their businesses primarily catered to the ethnic Chinese community at-large.[27]: 102 

On July 22, 2024, after President Bongbong Marcos officially banned all POGOs in the country, PAGCOR was subsequently instructed to cease all POGO operations by the end of the year.[28]

Relations to the government

PAGCOR is classed as a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC). As of 2024, PAGCOR is the most profitable state-owned enterprise in the Philippines.[27]: 102  It is the third largest contributor to government revenues, following taxes and customs.[27]: 102 

List of chairpersons

  • Norberto B. Quisumbing (1986)
  • Alicia L. Reyes (1987 – 2001)
  • Hildegarde A. Palacios (June – July 2001)
  • Efraim C. Genuino (2001 – 2010)
  • Cristino L. Naguiat Jr. (2010 – June 2016)
  • Andrea D. Domingo (July 1, 2016 – August 23, 2022)[29]
  • Alejandro H. Tengco (August 23, 2022 – present) [30]

See also

References

  1. ^ "PAGCOR Executives".
  2. ^ "Philippine Gaming Industry Data 4Q CY 2022" (PDF). PAGCOR. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  3. ^ "Philippine Gaming Industry Data CY 2023" (PDF). PAGCOR. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  4. ^ Narvaez, Eilene Antoinette; Macaranas, Edgardo, eds. (2013). Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino (PDF) (in Filipino) (2013 ed.). Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. p. 42. ISBN 978-971-0197-22-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 1 First Regular Session" (PDF). senate.gov.ph. 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Presidential Decree No. 1869 (July 11, 1983), "Consolidating and Amending Presidential Decree Nos. 1067-A, 1067-B, 1067-C, 1399 and 1632, Relative to the Franchise and Powers of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)", Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved July 13, 2020
  7. ^ a b "GOCC Profile - Integrated Corporate Reporting System". Integrated Corporate Reporting System. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  8. ^ Presidential Decree No. 1067-A (January 1, 1977), "Creating the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation, Defining Its Powers and Functions, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes", Chan Robles Virtual Law Library, retrieved July 13, 2020
  9. ^ "Stanley Ho, Macau gambling king, 98". The Philippine Star. Agence France-Presse. May 27, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Caña, Paul John (December 6, 2023). "Home of Beauties, Long Abandoned: Here's the Story of the Philippine Village Hotel". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  11. ^ "G.R. No. 132929 - Commissioner of Customs vs Court of Appeals and Philippine Casino Operators Corporation (PCOC)". The LawPhil Project. Supreme Court of the Philippines Second Division. March 27, 2000. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  12. ^ Republic Act No. 9487 (June 20, 2007), "An Act Further Amending Presidential Decree. No. 1869, Otherwise Known as PAGCOR Charter", The LawPhil Project, retrieved March 18, 2020
  13. ^ Palatino, Mong (June 1, 2020). "China's Clandestine Gamble in the Philippines". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Philippines Regulator to Launch Global Online Casino in Q1 2024". July 21, 2023.
  15. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (August 23, 2024). "Supreme Court to PAGCOR, PCSO: Remit funds to Philippine Sports Commission". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  16. ^ "Supreme Court affirms decision on Yeng Guiao's petition vs PAGCOR". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. December 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  17. ^ Mendoza, John Eric (July 12, 2023). "Pagcor's newly unveiled logo met with jeers". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "PAGCOR celebrates proud achievements for the past 40 years". PAGCOR. July 11, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  19. ^ Malasig, Jeline (July 12, 2023). "Petron copycat? Here's what people say about PAGCOR's new logo". Interaksyon. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  20. ^ ANCX staff. "Memes, zingers, redesign suggestions: The best reactions to PAGCOR's viral new logo". ANC.
  21. ^ "Meet the artist behind Pagcor's new logo that got social media fired up". GMAnetwork. February 26, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  22. ^ "FAST FACTS: What you need to know about the Philippine casino industry". Rappler. June 8, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  23. ^ O'Connor, Devin (February 7, 2022). "Philippines Reopens Borders, Casinos Ready for High Rollers". Casino.org. CG Holdings Ltd. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Branches". Casino Filipino. PAGCOR. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "Pagcor to shut down Airport Casino Filipino". ABS-CBN News. February 25, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Remo, Michelle V. (February 26, 2014). "Pagcor closing down Airport Casino". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  27. ^ a b c d e Han, Enze (2024). The Ripple Effect: China's Complex Presence in Southeast Asia. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-769659-0.
  28. ^ "'Effective today': Marcos declares POGO bans in sona". The Philippine STAR.
  29. ^ "Andrea Dizon Domingo Resume" (PDF). Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  30. ^ "New PAGCOR board sworn into office".
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