The Philippines’ government-owned gaming authority PAGCOR is set to issue new online gaming licenses that will exclusively target overseas players, according to global news service Reuters.
Barely a week after PAGCOR confirmed it would not renew local giant PhilWeb’s license to operate gaming cafes in the Philippines – the latest in a number of measures taken by President Rodrigo Duterte in his war on gaming – the organization has announced it will take a very different stance in regards to foreigners.
That means encouraging operators to establish online services that can attract foreign money.
“We’re readying the application forms, said PAGCOR boss Andrea Domingo. “It’s no longer the Filipinos who are betting but foreigners. “We don’t know yet how saleable it is. “There might be no takers or there could be many applicants.”
Domingo said the licenses would be for six months and include high fees although the exact model could be adjusted depending upon its success. The goal is to recoup around P10 billion in annual revenues that will be lost from President Duterte’s crackdown on those offering online gaming services to locals.
