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

3.3 CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority)

Philippines — Regulatory/Legal

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority is a government agency established under Republic Act 7922 that administers the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in northern Luzon. CEZA had the authority to license online gaming operations targeting offshore markets, creating a separate licensing pathway from PAGCOR. CEZA implemented its authority through designated Master Licensors who oversaw both online and land-based gambling activities in the zone. The relevance of CEZA’s gaming licensing has diminished with the POGO ban and the broader trend toward centralized national regulation.

In practice

CEZA’s alternative licensing framework created jurisdictional overlaps with PAGCOR that were partially addressed by Executive Order 13 (2017).

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.