Online casinos are legal in the Philippines when licensed and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the government agency responsible for overseeing all gaming activities nationwide. PAGCOR operates as both regulator and operator under Presidential Decree No. 1067-A and its amendments, issuing licenses for land-based and online gaming establishments (1). The agency has implemented comprehensive regulations covering e-gaming platforms, including e-games, e-bingo, specialty games, and sports betting targeting domestic players.
The regulatory framework requires all gaming operators to register with PAGCOR and comply with the Responsible Gaming Code of Practice, which establishes minimum age requirements, exclusion programs, and anti-money laundering measures. Persons under 21 years of age, government officials connected with government operations, and members of the Armed Forces or Philippine National Police are prohibited from gambling in licensed establishments (2). Licensees must implement helplines, complaint resolution mechanisms, and awareness programs to address problem gambling concerns.
"Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1869, as amended by Republic Act 9487, persons under 21 years of age or students of any school, college or university in the Philippines are not allowed to play in this gaming establishment."
Offshore gaming operations targeting foreign players were formally banned through Executive Order No. 74 issued in November 2024, which mandated immediate cessation of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators by December 31, 2024 (1). The ban cited associations with criminal activities including money laundering, human trafficking, and tax evasion. However, domestic e-gaming operations remain legal and continue growing, with the sector contributing to substantial increases in gross gaming revenues under PAGCOR's strategic oversight and strengthened compliance standards.
Source:
https://www.foi.gov.ph/agencies/pagcor/
https://www.pagcor.ph/regulatory/pdf/RG%20Code%20of%20Practice%20Ver.%203.0.pdf
Last updated: 13-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
