State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. on Friday dismissed claims that it has no right to issue offshore gaming licenses.
Pagcor said in a statement it had been functioning within the bounds of its charter to operate, authorize and license games of chance, cards and numbers in the Philippines.
It said gaming or gambling, as defined, was “a game of scheme, whether upon chance or skills wherein wagers consisting of money or articles of value or representative of value are made.”
“Hence, as long as the game is produced and its operation managed within the Philippine territory, it falls within Pagcor’s jurisdiction,” it said.
“The Philippine offshore gaming operation rules precisely were issued to regulate online gaming being produced in the Philippines despite being streamed abroad,” Pagcor added.