Part V: Regional & Cultural · Asia-Pacific Regional Terms

3.1 PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation)

Philippines — Regulatory/Legal

PAGCOR is the Philippine government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for regulating and operating all gambling activities in the Philippines. Established under Presidential Decree 1067-A (1976), PAGCOR serves as both regulator and operator — it licenses and supervises private casino operators while also operating its own Casino Filipino branded properties. PAGCOR is the primary licensing body for land-based casinos, electronic gaming, sports betting, and (formerly) offshore gaming operations. The corporation is a major revenue contributor to the Philippine government, funding significant portions of the national budget.

In practice

PAGCOR’s dual role as both regulator and operator has been criticized for creating conflicts of interest. In 2024, legislation was passed to privatize PAGCOR’s casino operations while retaining its regulatory functions.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.