Philippines lies in the southeastern Asia, it touches Taiwan province of China to the north by sea across Bashy Strait and Indonesia and Malaysia to the south and south-west across Sulu Sea and Balabac strait. This guide covers legal aspects, authorities, the license for Philippines Bookmakers gambling, taxes for betting, and the permitted and prohibited betting types. Also, it gives information about sports betting in the Philippines and key events in the country’s evolution of this segment.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Philippines Bookmakers and Sports Betting
Legal Treatment and Background
This paper aims to present the development of the legal framework regarding the activities of bookmakers and sports betting in the Philippines. There are main acts and orders that form the modern legislation.
- Revised Penal Code: In the early stage, gambling was given a very general meaning that includes any game of risk or chance in which people put money on them.
- Executive Order No. 13 (2017): They have broadened the meaning of unlawful gaming and also strictly outlined conditions for unlawful activities in gaming.
Regulatory Agencies
There are numerous government institutions responsible for the management of gambling in Philippines and the most important agency is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR.
- PAGCOR: It oversees gaming activities, issues licenses and regulates the gaming activities as well. It also publishes casino regulatory manuals that are location-specific, for example, for casinos in different areas.
- Other Authorities: Those include Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Authority (CEZA), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) who also issues licences to gaming entities in their territories.
Licensing for Philippines Bookmakers
There are several kinds of licences depending on specific types of gambling operations and the terms depending on licence type and expected duration of the arrangement.
Types of Licenses
- Land Casino License: Sustainable up to July 11, 2033, simultaneously with PAGCOR’s franchise.
- Internet Gaming Licenses: called for annually, meaning they can be valid for one year at the most.
- Accreditations: For the formalization of ‘Gaming Content Provider’, ‘Support Provider,’ and ‘Special Class of BPOs’ referred throughout this article. These entities are restricted to B2B business and they cannot take bets themselves.
Licensing Fees and Renewal
Licensing fee depends on the type of license and the sort of gaming operation to be conducted. For renewals which are normally made once in a year, the applicant has to meet several legalistic procedures as dictated by PAGCOR.
Taxes on Bookmakers
Like their counterparts in other countries, licensed bookmakers in the Philippines are required to pay different taxes and charges in a bid to play by the set regulations and supplement the government’s income.
- Gaming Revenue Tax: As a proportion of gross gambling yield and depending on the type and form of the gambling operation.
- Corporate Income Tax: Corporate taxes that are general to all the business entities that are found in the Philippines.
- Other Levies: Other costs are registration costs, accreditation costs of the BPOs, and any other charges that may be set by the Economic zones.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
The guidelines that were set by the Philippines government also read the kind of bets that are legal and those that are illegal.
Allowed Bets
- Horse Racing
- Cockfighting
- Sweepstakes and Lotteries
- Gambling Casino (including online gambling for foreign player)
Prohibited Bets
- Unauthorized Games: Some of the prohibited gambling include but not limited to gambling activities unauthorized by PAGCOR or any legal body.
- Unregulated Online Betting: Those bets made by means of services that are not registered with PAGCOR or special economic zones.
Overview of Sports Betting
Sports betting is one of the most recognized and commonly offered kinds of gambling activities in the Philippines. It comprises different sport disciplines mainly basketball, boxing and the cock-fighting.
Popular Sports for Betting
- Basketball: The Philippine Basketball Association or popularly known as PBA is also a major league basket ball and tournaments also include international league such as NBA.
- Boxing: Boxing bets have been boosted by Manny Pacquiao success in boxing.
- Cockfighting: What is well known today is that cockfighting locally known as “sabong” is a traditional and widely accepted form of betting through the sport of cocks.
Sporting Milestones
Philippines also has the historical background in terms of sports which really helped to boost the sports betting.
- 1938: Institution of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the advancement of collegiate sporting activities stake.
- 1975: The formation of PBA in Philippines, rise in basketball betting.
- 1988: Swimming: Eric Buhain comes out of the Olympics a proud winner of the Philippines first Olympic honor.
- 2019: Philippines basketball team, Ateneo wins gold in FIBA World Cup hence leading to more basketball betting.
- 2024: New regulation features taken by PAGCOR that allowed the introduction of the new legal requirements for online sports betting.
Conclusion
Currently, the Philippine market is quite favorable for both, bookmakers and sports betting in particular, and the latter’s clients. In firmly laid down legal system, strict conditions for obtaining the license and offering a great number of opportunities, this country remains one of the best places for the gambling industry development.
Therefore, anyone standing a chance to play the Philippine gambling market will need to seek the services of legal advisors and be keen on existing legal developments. For anyone willing to engage as an operator or to simply place a bet – whether novice or experienced – analyzing this constantly changing section will be invaluable to one’s experience and possibly, even profitability.
FAQ of Philippine Bookmakers
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