Lucky South 99 voluntarily canceled its offshore gaming licenses for two locations in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on March 22, 2023, according to a Rappler report on the operator's corporate history1. The company had secured those licenses in 20201.
The Laoag cancellation was one of several licensing events in the company's record. Its license for the Thai Royal Court building in Porac, Pampanga expired in October 2023, and an attempt to renew it through another application followed1. On May 22, 2024, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) denied Lucky South 99's application, citing "concerns" related to the separate Bamban case1.
"Lucky South voluntarily canceled its Laoag licenses on March 22, 2023"
The report traces the operation's growth from 2019. Whirlwind Corporation moved to the Thai Court compound in Porac and was incorporated with initial capital of P312.5 million, held by Filipinos Josefina Balisacan, Stephanie Balisacan Mascarenas, Raymond Calleon Co, Randel Calleon Co, and Chinese national Duanren Wu, at P62.5 million each1. Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in September 2019 with paid-up capital of P15 million; Mascarenas was its biggest investor at P9 million1. By 2022 the board had been replaced, with Singaporean Zhang Jie as president holding 40%1.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Laoag licenses secured | 20201 |
| Laoag licenses voluntarily canceled | March 22, 20231 |
| Thai Royal Court license expired | October 20231 |
| Pagcor denied renewal application | May 22, 20241 |
The Porac compound was initially estimated at 10 hectares, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said it is "thrice as big" as the previously raided Baofu compound in Bamban, Tarlac, which is seven hectares1. The report says the compound has 46 buildings overall, 26 of which had not been searched1. Workers at the site claimed they had been trafficked and tortured1.
What it means for players
The Laoag licenses were canceled by the operator itself, not revoked by the regulator, and the report does not say why1. For anyone checking whether a Philippine offshore operator is licensed, the record shows that a license can be surrendered, expire, or be refused, and that the status of a specific site can change without any public announcement. The report does not state what happened to operations at the two Laoag locations after March 2023, and that has not been reported1. Pagcor renamed offshore gaming operators as Internet Gaming Licensees in October 2023, a change that also removed service providers from the licensing structure1. Players in the Philippines can check operator status through the regulator and licensing guide and the Philippines gambling guide.
What happens next
The report describes a June 4, 2024 operation at the Porac compound that the PAOCC termed a "welfare check" because its search warrant did not list the persons and items to be searched and seized1. A Malolos court denied a subsequent warrant application, and the Supreme Court said it would look into allegations that POGOs had infiltrated law enforcement and the judiciary1. No further action specific to the Laoag licenses has been reported1.
