Thanks to the forethought and well-managed controls put in place by the government of the Philippines, regulated online casinos have been a boon to the Filipino economy. The revenue from licensing and annual gross gaming (GGR) taxes have helped the country implement much-needed socio-civic projects for underdeveloped and under-funded parts of the country.

The country’s plans for an expanded land-based gambling market are shaping up to be as vital to their plans as online gambling has proven to be.

 Integrated Resorts Are a Welcome Addition

In a recent statement discussing the region's plans for developing integrated resorts and casinos, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) revealed that they consider the planned resorts "one of the main growth drivers of local tourism”.

Speaking at the country’s inaugural Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit, Ma. Vina Claudette Oca, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Gaming Licensing and Development Department, said that the resorts are not just gambling destinations but are “a small component of the many attractions” these venues will offer tourists.

She explained:

Quote

“In fact, they are only allowed to allocate 7.5% of their facility’s total floor area to gaming. The rest of the floor area is allocated for non-gaming facilities such as hotel rooms, retail areas, dining and other attractions.”

This will allow the Philippines to become a tourist destination for visitors from across Asia and its surrounding territories, especially from China. This country has had a strained relationship with gambling and with the Philippines itself in recent years due to the action of POGOs.

PAGCOR has committed to filling government coffers with the money it makes from these ventures in the same way it does with online casino revenues. To date, nearly 80% of all income the gambling authority derives from its licensees is channelled into government projects that improve the country at a grassroots level.

 IR Venues Benefit the Community from Day One

It is one thing to question how the future revenues generated by the upcoming IR venues will be funnelled into socio-civic projects. However, that is not where the Filipino people will first see the benefit of these initiatives.

Not only are local building and development companies being awarded the contracts to develop these resorts and casinos, but their scope ensures that they will offer many long-term employment opportunities for the surrounding population.

Based on PAGCOR tourism projections and the size of the planned resorts, the integrated casinos are said to employ more than 20,000 locals. There are also opportunities for upskilling as these sites will require top-notch security, people equipped to maintain the casino games and infrastructure, web development and marketing personnel, and many more skilled labour positions.

 Enjoy Top-Rated Online Casino Gaming

If you want to join some of the best online casinos welcoming Filipino players, check out our list of Philippines Online Casinos. If you prefer to play in cryptocurrencies, we also have a wealth of Bitcoin Online Casinos to check out.

Whether you gamble with your local currency or crypto, you can rest assured that we have rated and reviewed each site, delving into their bonus terms, game selection, security programs, and customer service to ensure a safe and entertaining experience.

Please leave a review of your experience on the casinos you join to let us and the rest of the GamblersPick Community know how you found their bonuses and if they are worth joining.