The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation closed CF Oriental by the Bay on July 1, 2023, and CF Manila Grand Opera became a 100 percent PAGCOR-operated gaming site on the same date, according to the agency's 2023 annual report1.
The closures were part of a series of Casino Filipino branch shutdowns recorded in the report. CF Turf Club closed on March 6 and CF Ronquillo closed on November 11. The report lists the CF Oriental by the Bay closure on July 1 among these dates but does not give a reason for any of the individual closures1.
PAGCOR is a 100 percent government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President, created by Presidential Decree 1067-A in July 1983 and later consolidated under PD 1869, the PAGCOR Charter1. Its charter mandate covers regulating, operating, authorizing and licensing casino gaming in the Philippines, generating revenues for government programs and promoting tourism1.
The report also records PAGCOR's wider regulatory activity in 2023. In July 2023 the agency placed all offshore gaming licensees under probation and required them to re-apply under stricter guidelines1. It amended its regulatory framework for the E-Games, bingo and sports betting sectors to eliminate illegal online gaming sites, and said it is gradually reducing its share rates for on-site and online E-Games from around 55 percent toward a level at par with global standards1.
"In July 2023, we placed all offshore gaming licensees under probation and required them to re-apply under stricter guidelines."
Philippine gross gaming revenues reached a record Php285.27 billion in 2023, 11.22 percent above the previous high of Php256.49 billion in 2019 and 33.09 percent higher year on year from Php214.33 billion1. PAGCOR's own gross revenues were Php79.37 billion, up 34.63 percent from Php58.96 billion1. The E-Games sector posted Php58.16 billion in GGR, a 106.16 percent increase from Php28.21 billion1.
| Casino Filipino venue | Date |
|---|---|
| CF Turf Club | March 6 |
| CF Oriental by the Bay | July 1 |
| CF Ronquillo | November 1 |
What it means for players
CF Oriental by the Bay is no longer operating, and CF Manila Grand Opera is now run directly by PAGCOR rather than through the previous arrangement1. Players who used either venue have one fewer site and one state-operated site in the Casino Filipino network. The report does not state what happens to outstanding player balances, loyalty points or any pending claims at the closed venue, and no such details have been reported1.
PAGCOR's regulatory changes to offshore gaming, E-Games, bingo and sports betting affect which online operators are licensed and how they are supervised1. Players checking whether an operator holds a valid PAGCOR gaming license can use the agency's licensing records. General rules on entry and play at Philippine venues are covered in the guide to gambling in the Philippines.
What happens next
The report does not set out further closures or a schedule for the remaining Casino Filipino branches, and no such plan has been reported1. It notes the opening of new integrated resorts such as Solaire Resort North in Quezon City in May 20241. PAGCOR's 2024 strategic roadmap is listed in the report but its contents are not detailed in the sections covering the closures1.
Sources1 sources
- pagcor-annual-report-2023.pdf, pagcor.ph
