PHILIPPINES – Aiming to consolidate the fragmented gaming industry of the country, Quezon Province Congressman Danilo Suarez introduced for consideration House Bill AB4192 which will effectively put under one national authority all government entities relating to games of chance.
If the bill is ratified and passed into law, this will affect the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) which runs state lotteries and sweepstakes, the Philippine Racing Commission which manages horse racing in the country, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) which is in charge of all landbased casinos and poker rooms.
It is not sure if online gambling, currently the jurisdiction of First Cagayan Leisure and Resorts Corporation (FCLRC) through the Cagayan Special Economic Zone Authority (CSEZA) mandate is to be covered by the same bill.
The bill Suarez proposes the creation of a National Gaming Commission (NGC) that will “oversee and supervise all government-sanctioned gambling and gaming operations in the country to maximize the government’s earnings from all legalized gambling.”
“We can ensure maximization of earnings from casinos, lotto and sweepstakes operations, small time lottery, cockfighting and horse racing games and other numbers games if we centralise all government regulations and supervision over gaming and gambling in the country,” said Suare who chairs the House Oversight Committee.
Suarez further details that he envisions the NGC to be headed by a Commissioner with four deputies, each to be responsible for one gambling category.
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