Three of Entertainment City’s IR operators have already began online gaming services under the so-called PIGO (Philippine Inland Gaming Operator) scheme, said the CEO of Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR Andrea Domingo.

During a local online forum in the capital, Andrea Domingo indicated that Solaire Resort & Casino, Resorts World Manila and Okada Manila are the three operators that have already “started online table games and slot machines.”

Last month, Okada Manila’s operating entity, Tiger Resort, Leisure & Entertainment confirmed that it had received letter from PAGCOR “approving entry into online gaming for table games and electric gaming machines.”

Tiger Resort said at the time that it would launch online operations as soon as it completes all the testings, it also described itself as “the first among the four integrated resorts comprising Entertainment City in Metro Manila” to be granted permission to start online operations.

According to PIGO program, casino and IR operators can be licensed to offer online gambling to existing registered members only, allowing these members to log in and play from anywhere within the country.

With casinos in Manila currently closed as part of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine measures to control the pandemic, PIGO is seen as a way of bringing in gambling revenues.

However, Domingo also stated that PIGO licenses were “all limited because we need to regulate them. Not just anyone can play because of non-proliferation and responsible gaming. Those are the two principles that we are upholding.”

She also revealed that she has started lobbying president Rodrigo Duterte to allow the partial reopening of casinos as soon as the restrictions are lifted.

Editing by Rachel Hu