(AsiaGameHub) – The Philippines is bolstering casino entry regulations for government workers following a new pact between Pagcor and the Department of Justice. This collaboration adds Department of Justice staff to the registry of individuals barred from gaming venues, providing regulators with an additional level of oversight in one of Asia’s most accessible local casino markets.
Key Highlights
- Pagcor and the Department of Justice finalized the pact on Monday
- Staff from the Department of Justice will be included in the casino exclusion database
- Pagcor’s current restricted list contains approximately 600,000 individuals
DOJ Partnership Expands Philippine Casino Restriction List
A fresh data-sharing agreement between Pagcor and the Department of Justice is set to improve the enforcement of casino entry protocols in the Philippines. According to the Philippine News Agency, the memorandum of agreement ensures that Department of Justice personnel are now part of the database for restricted individuals.
This development is significant for the domestic gaming sector, as the Philippines remains one of the few Asian jurisdictions where casinos are broadly open to both local residents and foreign tourists. However, this access is regulated; current laws already prohibit government officials and employees from gambling, and this new arrangement provides a more robust method for ensuring compliance.
Alejandro Tengco, Chairman and CEO of Pagcor, stated that Monday’s agreement is the first such partnership between the gaming regulator and a government body. He also noted the disparity between the current exclusion list and the total number of public employees. While Pagcor’s database currently lists about 600,000 names, there are roughly 4.5 million government workers across the nation.
The inclusion of the Department of Justice alone adds substantial scale to the initiative. With approximately 60,000 employees across its central offices and linked agencies, adding this group to the registry could improve screening at gaming facilities and strengthen the enforcement of existing gambling bans.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida characterized the deal as a move to protect public sector integrity. He remarked: “the presence of government officials and employees in gaming establishments, in violation of existing laws and regulations, undermines the ethical standards we are sworn to uphold.”
He added: “This data-sharing initiative is both timely and necessary. By enabling a more efficient and accurate identification system, we strengthen enforcement mechanisms and ensure that policies are not only written but meaningfully implemented.”
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