Philippines integrated resorts Newport World Resorts (NWR), Okada Manila and Solaire Resort have issued a joint statement in defense of their domestic online gaming operations, arguing that they already operate under strict guidelines outlined by regulator PAGCOR and insisting that they “prioritize ethical business practices and promote responsible gaming”.
The rare public display of unity between the three Entertainment City resorts – the fourth, City of Dreams Manila, does not have an online presence – follows a move by some lawmakers to impose a variety of new restrictions on the nation’s growing eGames sector.
Those restrictions include, among others, stronger Know-Your-Customer rules, greater regulation of gambling advertising, the imposition of a minimum top-up threshold of Php10,000 (US$177) and a ban on payment platforms like GCash and Maya from working with online betting operators.
One Senator, Juan Miguel Zubiri, has gone a step further by filing a bill seeking an outright ban on all online gambling in the Philippines.
In their joint statement issued over the weekend, NWR, Okada and Solaire said, “Our online gaming operations are a regulated and responsibly managed extension of our operations – designed to complement our primary offerings.
“We prioritize ethical business practices and promote responsible gaming under the robust regulation of PAGCOR.
“Our platform adheres rigorously to AML regulations. We implement comprehensive Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures and player verification within 72 hours of registration, ensuring the integrity of our operations and safeguarding players.
“We actively promote responsible gaming through tools such as self-exclusion, deposit limits and account restrictions. We strictly prohibit minors from accessing our platform through our stringent age-gating system and verification. We likewise offer resources for individuals seeking assistance with gambling-related issues.”
The operators added that all gaming equipment is subject to full testing and accreditation before use, including the random number generators used in electronic gaming machines.
On last week’s order to remove all Out-of-Home online gambling advertising by 15 August, they said, “Our promotional materials undergo thorough review and approval from PAGCOR and the Advertising Standards Council (ASC), ensuring ethical communication and social responsibility.
“Every employee holds a valid gaming employment license from PAGCOR and participates in annual compliance training programs.
“Routine audits of our gaming systems, transaction records, and compliance procedures reinforce our accountability and integrity.
“All content and promotional materials are thoroughly reviewed internally to ensure alignment with regulatory standards, ethical guidelines, and responsible gaming principles.”
Since a series of bills were filed in relation to the eGames sector, multiple companies operating within the space have made their thoughts known about the proposed restrictions, while both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco have outlined their belief that some new restrictions are called for.
Late last week a collection of online gaming operators issued their own joint statement which warned that imposing too many restrictions would risk driving Filipinos to illegal offshore sites.
“Out of 195 countries worldwide, 177 choose to regulate online gaming. Only 18 nations, including North Korea, Iran and Somalia, maintain total bans, and none have succeeded in eradicating underground gaming,” the operators said.
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