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| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Casino |
| Founded | 1977; 47 years ago (1977) |
| Headquarters | IMET BPO Tower, Roxas Boulevard, Metropolitan Park, Central Business Park 1-A, Pasay, Metro Manila |
Key people |
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Number of employees | 11,000+ |
| Website | www |
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR, Filipino: Korporasyon sa Libangan at Palaro ng Pilipinas)[2] is a government-owned and controlled corporation established in 1977 through the Presidential Decree No. 1869.[3][4] PAGCOR is the Philippines' largest contributor of revenue to the government after the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.
PAGCOR is under the Office of the President of the Philippines.[5]
The Corporation was created during the Martial Law years by virtue of a Presidential Decree No. 1067-A issued by President Ferdinand Marcos on January 1, 1977, in response to calls for the Philippine Government to put a stop to the growing proliferation of illegal casino operations in various parts of the country then.[6]
After its establishment, PAGCOR entered into a contract with Philippine Casino Operators Corporation (PCOC) for the operation of the floating casino in Manila Bay in 1977. However, after the floating casino was gutted by fire in 1979, PAGCOR shifted its focus to land-based casinos and entered into another contract with PCOC for the management of a casino at the Provident International and Resources Corporation (PIRC) building on Imelda Avenue, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Then, under Presidential Decree No. 1869, decreed in 1983, it was mandated to act as the government corporation conducting and establishing gaming pools and casinos in the country.[3][4] In 1986, it was re-established and reorganized by Philippine President Corazon Aquino as a new PAGCOR to help raise funds for the government; Norberto Quisumbing was appointed as its first chairman, followed by the former Development Bank of the Philippines Chair Alicia L. Reyes as its Chair and CEO. Reyes was succeeded by Ephraim Genuino under the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2001.
The firm operates its own casinos and several VIP slot clubs in major cities across the country. It also oversees and regulates privately owned casinos, more than 180 bingo parlors, as well as e-games cafes across the country.[5] The company employs more than 11,000 workers. In June 2007, PAGCOR gained from a piece of legislation, Republic Act No. 9487, which granted the state-run gaming firm, then under the leadership of Chairman Genuino, another 25 years to regulate and operate games of chance, to issue licenses, and to enter into joint venture, management, or investment agreements with private entities for the Entertainment City in the Manila Bay area, Parañaque, and in Newport City, Pasay, in particular.[7] Chairman Genuino successfully attracted investors to the project to put up Las Vegas-style integrated resorts. Two integrated resorts opened on November 1, 2014.
On July 13, 2018, PAGCOR announced the appointment of Angeline Papica-Entienza as the head of the agency's Gaming Licensing and Development Department and as the assistant vice president of the corporation.[8]
PAGCOR announced that it will launch a global-facing online casino in early 2024 under its ‘Casino Filipino’ brand.[9]
As of 2024, PAGCOR is the most profitable state-owned enterprise in the Philippines.[10]: 102 It is the third largest contributor to government revenues, following taxes and customs.[10]: 102
In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 started the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) program under PAGCOR to allow online gambling in major cities.[10]: 102 PAGCOR issued licenses to be used for service providers to offer online gambling.[10]: 102 Most of the companies which obtained POGO licenses were Chinese, and their businesses primarily catered to the ethnic Chinese community at-large.[10]: 102
On June 27, 2023, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) commissioned Printplus Graphic Services to create a new logo at a total cost of ₱3,035,714.28.[11] Printplus Graphic Services is owned by Francisco D. Doplon, who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Art Director of ArtOne Design. Doplon has also worked with various government agencies and private institutions,[12] including the redesign of the logo for the Cultural Center of the Philippines[13] and University of Santo Tomas's logo for its quadricentennial celebration in 2008.[14]
On July 11, 2023, PAGCOR unveiled its new logo in commemoration of its 40th year anniversary.[15] Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco described the logo as incorporating the element of fire, which symbolizes energy, inspiration, passion, and transformation. The logo generated discussions and debates on social media platforms including the similar resemblance of the logo on Petron Corporation.[16][17]
On April 18, 2024, Atty. Wilma T. Eisma, PAGCOR's first woman President and Chief operating officer took her oath before Lucas Bersamin succeeding Juanito Sanosa Jr. who resigned in January. Eisma served as Director of the Development Bank of the Philippines in 2022 and later, as Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator.[18]
Media related to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation at Wikimedia Commons| International |
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