The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO) has stated that they are using confidential funds to fight illegal gambling within the country.
PSCO Assistant General Manager Lauro Patiag told the House of Appropriations Committee that the agency has received about P100 million in confidential funds and has already used nearly P25 million of the received amount.
PCSO Board Secretary Reymar Santiago said, “If we talk about policy decisions, we have a budget for this from the confidential fund from which we gather information regarding illegal gambling activities in the provinces.” Santiago said the organization is coordinating with law enforcement agencies to eradicate illegal gambling activities.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo both stated that if the PSCO is using confidential funds to fight illegal gambling activities in the Philippines that they are probably not doing so well since there are still many instances of illegal gambling taking place.
What Is Considered Illegal Gambling In The Philippines?
Popular forms of Illegal gambling in the Philippines are betting on competitions through unlicensed bookmakers (cockfighting, sports), juenteg, casinos, and the last two. Punishment for participating in illegal gambling activities in the Philippines could result in imprisonment and a fine of up to PHP 6,000.
Are Online Casinos Considered Illegal Gambling In The Philippines?
Online casinos in the Philippines are legal if the casino is located outside of the country and licensed by a trusted gaming commission. Online casinos located in the Philippines are regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) but are not allowed to offer their services to residents of the Philippines.
What Games Do Online Casinos Offer?
Online casinos offer all the same games you find in traditional casinos, including blackjack, baccarat, video poker, slots, craps, keno, and live dealer games. Online casino table games typically offer lower buy-ins since they employ random number generators (rngs) that set the odds instead of a live dealer.
To ensure players that the games and odds are fair, legal online casinos allow gaming regulators to test their games and issue compliance records and licensing. The Philippine government suggests that residents only play licensed casino sites as they offer more player protections than other unlicensed casinos.