FAQ
1) What is CASINO FILIPINO?
CASINO FILIPINO stands for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. It is a 100 percent government-owned and controlled entity created by Philippine law (PD 1869, amended to RA 9487 in 2007) with the following mandate:
- Regulate all games of chance in the country, particularly casino gaming;
- Raise funds for the Philippine government’s socio-civic and national development efforts; and
- Help boost domestic tourism.
CASINO FILIPINO is one of the top earning corporations in the Philippines and the second biggest income-generating arm of the Philippine government, next only to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Worldwide, CASINO FILIPINO is known as one of the most established and profitable casino operators in Asia.
2) Who are the officers of CASINO FILIPINO?
As a government corporation that operates under the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, CASINO FILIPINO is managed by a Chairman and CEO, President and COO, and a Board of Directors all appointed by the President.
The incumbent officers of the company are the following:
Board of Directors
CRISTINO L. NAGUIAT, JR.
- Chairman and CEO
ATTY. JORGE V. SARMIENTO
– President and COO
ENRIQUITO M. NUGUID – Member
EUGENE D. MANALASTAS
– Member
JOSE S. TANJUATCO – Member
3) How do I get in touch with CASINO FILIPINO management?
Any communications and concerns may be directed to this address:
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Philippines
Otherwise, you may log in your questions or queries at info@pagcor.ph.
4)Where does CASINO FILIPINO income go?
In accordance with its Charter and other governing laws, CASINO FILIPINO earnings are distributed as follows:
- 5 percent of winnings goes to the BIR as franchise tax;
- 50 percent of the 95 percent balance goes to the National Treasury as the National Government’s mandated income share;
- 5 percent of the balance after the franchise tax and the National Government’s mandated income share goes to the Philippine Sports Commission for financing of the country’s sports development programs;
- 1 percent of the net cash income goes to the Board of Claims, an agency under the Department of Justice, which compensates victims of wrongful detention and prosecution;
- Cities hosting CASINO FILIPINO casinos are given a fixed amount for their respective community development projects; and
- The remaining balance of CASINO FILIPINO’s income is then remitted to the President’s Social Fund to help fund the priority projects of the government.
Aside from these, CASINO FILIPINO also provides funds for the implementation of vital laws:
Beneficiary/Funding Recipient |
Amount Given |
Early Childhood Care and Development program |
P2 billion for five years |
Sports Incentives and Benefits Act |
P100 million initial funding |
Gasoline Station Training and Loan fund |
P300 million |
National Museum Act of 1998 |
P250 million to be taken from CASINO FILIPINO’s remittance to the President’s Social Fund |
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 |
P5 million a month to be taken from the National Treasury’s share |
Children’s TV Act of 1997 |
P30 million |
Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Development Fund |
P300 million |
Philippine Seafarers’ One-Stop Processing Center (Presidential Administrative Order 56) |
P14.72 million |
5)What are the investment opportunities in CASINO FILIPINO?
Following are some of the major business opportunities that can be applied for with CASINO FILIPINO:
a) Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Integrated City
The Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Manila Bay Tourism City will initially cover about 85 hectares of prime reclaimed land in the famed Manila Bay City area and will be developed in various stages over the next few years.
It will be a fully integrated tourism zone featuring a wide array of international-grade facilities and amenities such as posh luxury hotels, convention centers, state-of-the-art theaters, sports stadiums, restaurants, shopping centers, cultural complexes and museums, amusement parks and an observation tower that will be among the tallest structures of its kind in the world.
Meanwhile, the second and third phases of the project include the development of other tourist hubs in the country such as Clark in Pampanga and Cebu in the Visayas.
The Terms of Reference for the said project is already out on www.pagcor.ph. Among the requirements stipulated by the Terms of Reference are for investors to invest at least US$1 billion to be able to join.
b) Private Casinos in Special Economic Zones
Gaming investors can establish private casino operations in areas identified as Special Economic Zones, and where the law creating the Special Economic Zone expressly allows the conduct of casino gaming within the area. An important requirement in putting up said facilities is a resolution promulgated by the provincial, municipal, and/or city council authorizing the establishment of a gaming facility in the proposed site.
Prior to evaluating casino development proposals, CASINO FILIPINO requires that the proponent should have secured a lease agreement with the appropriate economic zone authority and an express approval for the casino component of the proposed project from the authority’s Board of Directors.
Private casinos in the ecozones must primarily cater to foreign players who will be brought by the proponent from abroad to the Philippines to play in their casino.
c) Slot Machine VIP Clubs
CASINO FILIPINO does not give franchises to operate slot machine arcades. Instead, slot machine VIP Club projects entail the establishment by the proponent of a fully outfitted gaming facility with slot machine units and on-line system for CASINO FILIPINO to operate the facility under a lease arrangement.
d) Chipwashing/Junket Operations
Gaming investors can also apply for a chipwashing arrangement with CASINO FILIPINO where CASINO FILIPINO provides the site, the required personnel, gaming chips, equipment and other paraphernalia. The proponent, on the other hand, will be responsible for the needed renovation of the site, marketing expenses, cost of playing cards in excess of the projected monthly quantity, cost of manpower, and encashment of chips, aside from the fees due to CASINO FILIPINO and the required deposit.
e) Bingo Operations
CASINO FILIPINO offers income opportunities via conduct of Bingo Operations. Two types of Bingo operations are available for investors:
1.Mobile Charity Bingo – short term bingo operations usually for fundraising projects by proponents and organizations for charity
2.Commercial Bingo – Bingo business operations for a period of time like those operated in malls and bingo clubs
For more details, you may contact the Bingo Department at 426-4942 (Mobile Charity Bingo) or at 523-1120 (Commercial Bingo).
f) Poker Clubs
Interested Poker Club operators may apply for a license to operate from CASINO FILIPINO by first submitting the required documents for initial assessment by the Poker Department. For complete listing of the requirements and download of forms, please click on the link below.
g) Internet Gaming/e-Games Operation
CASINO FILIPINO has the sole authority to accept, evaluate and approve applications for CASINO FILIPINO e-Games Stations. All application forms shall be submitted to the office of the Senior Vice-President, Research and Development Department, 6th Floor, Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, M. H. Del Pilar Sts., Malate, Manila.
6) How do interested proponents apply for these investment opportunities?
The initial step for interested investors is to write a Letter of Intent to our Chairman and CEO (CRISTINO L. NAGUIAT, JR.) to apply for any of these investment opportunities.
For questions, you may inquire from the Business Development Unit, of CASINO FILIPINO’s Research and Development Department.
7) How do I apply for a career opportunity in CASINO FILIPINO?
For an updated listing of career opportunities in CASINO FILIPINO, you may log on to our official website at www.pagcor.ph.