• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Pagcor tells LRWC to cease some gaming parlour ops

Sep 09, 2016 Newsdesk Latest News, Philippines, Top of the deck  


Pagcor tells LRWC to cease some gaming parlour ops

Two wholly-owned units of Philippine gaming investor Leisure and Resorts World Corp (LRWC) have been separately ordered by the Philippine gaming regulator to cease current operation of some electronic games parlours because of alleged non-compliance with “distance restriction guidelines”.

In a filing on Friday, LRWC said that on Thursday, Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc had been told by the country’s regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), it must “immediately cease” the operations of electronic games at 17 sites. Pagcor gave the reason as “non-compliance with the distance restriction guidelines under Section 2 of Regulation 3 of the Gaming Site Regulatory Manual (GSRM) for Electronic Games version 2.0”.

Another LRWC filing on Friday cited Pagcor as offering distance regulation guidelines as the reason for on Thursday ordering LRWC unit AB Leisure Exponent Inc to stop operations at 36 sites offering electronic bingo games.

In both cases, LRWC said it would send a “letter of reconsideration to Pagcor”. It added: “Should reconsideration be not given, we will transfer the… operations at said sites… to compliant locations.”

Regulation 3, Section 2 of the 2.0 version of Pagcor’s Gaming Site Regulatory Manual for Electronic Games says – among other things – that such venues must be “not less than 200 metres [656 feet] from schools and places of worship. It also sets minimum distance requirements between licensed gaming sites.

The equivalent Pagcor regulation for electronic bingo parlours has the same set of conditions.

The move against some of LRWC’s domestic gaming operations comes only weeks after Andrea Domingo, the new head of the Pagcor, said the regulator would not be renewing the gaming licence of PhilWeb Corp, which offered Internet-delivered casino games via a network with a total of 286 retail outlets in that country, according to company information.

Ms Domingo was additionally reported as saying her organisation planned not to renew the licences of a total of 302 e-Games venues and 324 e-Bingo outlets operated by various businesses, and that were described as catering to local bettors.

Roberto Ongpin, the controlling shareholder of PhilWeb Corp, tried to broker a compromise deal with Pagcor, but on Monday finally admitted defeat, saying in a filing to the Philippine Stock Exchange that he would divest all his holdings in Philweb.

LRWC – which has several interests related to land-based and online gambling in the Philippines – in April reported group-wide 2015 consolidated revenue of PHP9.5 billion (US$206 million), up by almost 40 percent in year-on-year terms.

According to LRWC’s 2015 annual report, its casino division is composed of three units. They are: Prime Investment Korean Inc, engaged in junket operations including phone betting at Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila; Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corp, a “facilities provider” of VIP slot arcades for Pagcor; and a joint venture called Hotel Enterprises Philippines Inc, which owns the Midas Hotel and Casino.

LRWC’s online division includes the majority-owned First Cagayan Leisure and Resorts Corp. The latter is the master licensor on behalf of the Cagayan Freeport and Special Economic Zone, for online gaming services aimed at overseas consumers.

On August 23, Reuters news agency reported – citing some comments made by Ms Domingo – that Pagcor wished to raise fresh funds by issuing online gaming licences for services that targeted overseas players.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • International Ent to invest at least US$1bln in Manila IR
    International Ent to invest at least...

    Sep 28, 2023  

  • Sale of Pagcor casinos by 2025 feasible: DoF
    Sale of Pagcor casinos by 2025...

    Sep 26, 2023  

More news
  • Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt
    Macau September GGR down 13pct...

    Oct 01, 2023  

  • Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets
    Sands China to revitalise firecracker...

    Sep 29, 2023  


Latest News

Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt

Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt

Oct 01, 2023  

Macau’s September casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell by 13.2 percent month-on-month, to MOP14.94 billion (US$1.85 billion), according to a Sunday announcement from the local regulator, the...
Read More
Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sep 29, 2023  

Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Sep 29, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”The Philippines has been the primary growth driver, but really the broader Asian gaming industry is something that’s really important to us”

Matt Wilson

Chief executive of casino equipment provider Light & Wonder



Most Popular

  • Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govtMacau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt October 1, 2023
  • Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streetsSands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets September 29, 2023
  • S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches  September 29, 2023
  • Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share saleBloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale September 29, 2023
  • Light & Wonder to expand facilities in the Philippines: CEOLight & Wonder to expand facilities in the Philippines:… September 29, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us