Asian-based online gaming giant Oriental Group has been given the green light by gaming regulator PAGCOR to develop two hubs for the purpose of hosting accredited Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The hubs – one based in Clark and the other in Cavite – will not only house the offices of accredited POGOs but also workers’ residences and relevant government agencies. The idea is to make it easier for PAGCOR to regulate the industry.
PAGCOR chair Andrea Domingo told media at the opening of the inaugural Phil-Asian Gaming Expo in Manila on Friday that POGOs who relocated to one of these two new gaming hubs would be rewarded with five-year licenses rather than the usual three.
“We are making business more comfortable and easier for the operators by now licensing POGO hubs,” she said.
“Since it’s easier for us to regulate when they are in hubs, then there are some special privileges there like five-year licenses.”
According to Oriental Game General Manager Kevin Wong, the Clark hub, covering an area of around 10 hectares, is already operational and will be able to accommodate 5,000 workers once at full capacity. The Cavite hub, which will cost Oriental Game Php8 billion (US$156 million) to build, will cover 20 hectares and house 20,000 workers.
Domingo said that PAGCOR expects to receive around Php8 billion in revenue from POGO operators in 2019, up from Php7.37 billion last year.
