The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) issued the Regulatory Framework for Gaming Venue Operations, Revision 0, with an effectivity date of 06 November 2025, according to the document published by the regulator1. The framework was released by PAGCOR's Electronic Gaming Licensing Department under its I-Gaming Licensing and Regulation Group1.
The framework states that it "shall form part of the Gaming License issued by PAGCOR to a qualified Operator" for the establishment and operation of a gaming venue for each game offering regulated by PAGCOR, listing traditional bingo games, electronic bingo games, electronic casino games, sports betting, specialty games, numeric games and online poker games, "or any suite of games that may be allowed by PAGCOR in the future"1. A separate license is to be issued to the gaming venue operator for each game offering1.
On scope, the document says:
"The provisions of this Regulatory Framework shall apply prospectively and shall repeal previous issuances, memoranda, orders, rules and regulations governing gaming venue operations."
The framework sets player registration and membership rules. A prospective player must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of application and must show one valid government-issued identification card containing a photograph, full name and date of birth1. A player registration system must be in place before the gaming venue is allowed to commence operations, and the operator must post signage at the venue entrance stating the mandatory membership requirement1. Gaming Employment License holders and unregistered players are prohibited from playing at any gaming venue or establishment1.
Operational rules in the document include:
| Requirement | Provision |
|---|---|
| Operating hours | An operator may operate its gaming venue for twenty-four (24) hours a day; changes in operating hours must be notified to CMED-EG at least one day before implementation using EG Form No. 241 |
| Minimum buy-in | A minimum buy-in or initial deposit of Five Hundred Pesos (PhP500.00) is required upon registration to play an electronic game1 |
| eBingo encashment | Encashment of all winnings or prizes is honored until closing time of the current trading day in which the initial cash-in was made1 |
| Winnings | The operator must pay a winning player in full without deduction of any commission or fee1 |
| Malfunctions | Any system or machine malfunction voids all plays and pays; a game is declared void if a malfunction or interruption affects its outcome1 |
The framework also prohibits entry, stay or play by certain persons, bars anyone in a state of intoxication from participating in gaming activity, prohibits financiers and loan sharks from roaming the premises and offering loans to players, and bans firearms or deadly weapons inside the gaming venue1. It states that everyone within the gaming venue is required to dress modestly and appropriately1. On disputes, it says management shall have the final decision upon proper consultation with the PAGCOR representative assigned to the venue, if any1. It also states that PAGCOR may suspend or cancel certain online games or game programs without prior notice1.
What it means for players
For anyone gambling at a PAGCOR-licensed gaming venue outside a land-based casino, the framework makes membership and registration a condition of play, with a minimum age of twenty-one (21) and a valid government-issued photo ID required at application1. Venues cannot begin operations before a player registration system is in place, and entrances must carry signage about the mandatory membership requirement1. Gaming Employment License holders and unregistered players are barred from playing1. The PhP500 minimum buy-in applies to electronic games at registration1. Players who win on an electronic gaming terminal or machine are to be paid in full without commission or fee deductions, while machine or system malfunctions void plays and pays1. How PAGCOR's Gambling Regulators and Licenses in Asia framework applies in practice, and how to verify a venue's PAGCOR gaming license, are set out in the site's guides. General information on gambling in the Philippines is also available.
What happens next
The framework took effect on 06 November 2025 and applies prospectively, repealing previous issuances, memoranda, orders, rules and regulations governing gaming venue operations1. No further dated steps are given in the document.
