Pagcor to close unlicensed online gaming firms

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has clarified that it will be closing only online gaming firms that are not licensed by the agency.

Chair Andrea Domingo, in a statement on Wednesday, also said that all applications for online gaming would have to go through Pagcor.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 23 said in a speech at Malacañang that he was ordering the closure of all online gaming as it had “no use.” He also justified the closure of these firms because while their operations were in the Philippines, the betting was being done outside the country.

READ: Duterte wants to close down online gambling

The President also had an order to arrest gambling tycoon Jack Lam, who ran Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino. Lam ran into trouble after authorities discovered that he hired illegal Chinese workers for his gaming firm, and that his online casino operated without license.