Philippines Online Gambling China

Licensed online gaming operations introduced in 2016 have been a boon in bringing money to the Philippine economy, but illegal businesses attracting massive numbers of Chinese migrants have also. China, which prohibits gambling, said Manila's online casino industry, led by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators - or POGOs - is targeting Chinese. Beijing last month called for a ban on online. MANILA (Reuters) - China has said it hopes the Philippines will ban online gaming to support its crackdown on cross-border gambling, which it said foreign criminals had used to embezzle funds.

Philippines Online Gambling China Stocks
Philippines Online Gambling China Laws

Residents of the Philippines can enjoy legal online casinos if they are licensed and regulated by a legitimate offshore jurisdiction. Licensed offshore online casinos can provide Filipinos with numerous legal gaming options not otherwise permitted to them domestically such as poker, sports betting, bingo, keno, scratch cards, slots, and much more.

This guide will detail everything residential Philippine players should know about gambling online at licensed and credible casino destinations from banking methods to region laws and more.

Visitors to the Philippines are not restricted from access to domestic casinos as these have built the country as a successful and thriving gambling destination for international players to experience. Casino resorts populate the islands; however, land-based casinos in certain regions have the authority to restrict various forms of gaming from their selection. Therefore, to experience the full variety of games available we recommend using licensed Philippines legal online casinos.

Online casinos recommended here are thoroughly evaluated and each have casino reviews available on this site.

Are Online Casinos Legal In The Philippines?

Filipino players can legally participate in online casino entertainment as long as the destination at which they are playing is located and regulated outside of the Philippines. The Filipino gambling laws do not prohibit players from participating in legally licensed and regulated offshore Internet gambling.

This fact was further supported by a 2012 court ruling that found that there are no provisions in the Presidential Decree or any other gambling law in the Philippines that makes it illegal for residents to place bets online. The locally run, government licensed online casinos in the Philippines are prohibited from offering their services to Filipino citizens, requiring players to turn to offshore sites.

The gambling laws in the Philippines are directed towards the business operators and not the players. You can gain more understanding about the difference between domestic and offshore online gambling in our guide to Philippines legal casino gambling by region.

Betonline Sportsbook And Casino

If you are looking for a trusted site to gamble at, look no further than Betonline. They are one of the biggest and most reputable gambling establishments on the internet and gladly welcome all players from the Philippines. Betonline offers casino games, poker, sports betting and even a live dealer casino. Plus they are mobile friendly which is always nice.

Betonline has been around for over a decade and has earned a superb reputation for being fair and honest with players and always paying winners in a timely manner. They are a great option for all Asian players. New Philippine players can claim a 100% bonus up to $3,000 over your first 3 deposits.

Best Legal Online Casinos For Philippine Players

Site Name	Bonus Offer	Accepts Filipinos?	Visit Site
100% Max $3,000	Review
100% Max $100	Review
150% Max $750	Review
100% Max $1,000	Review
100% Max $300	Review

What Determines Whether Or Not An Online Casino Is Legal For Players In The Philippines?

The formal credentials and the destination of an online casino determine whether or not it is legal for Filipino residents to gamble there. Gambling laws in the Philippines have deemed it illegal for state licensed online casinos to offer their services to citizens of the islands. However, there are no laws dictating where players can bet, hence it is perfectly legal for Filipino gamblers to enjoy offshore gambling online as long as the destination is legally licensed and regulated through a legitimate governing jurisdiction.

What is ironic is that the Philippines is home to the only online gambling licensing jurisdiction in Asia, yet Filipino players cannot engage in betting services offered from the businesses which are regulated by the First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corp (FCLRC) in the Cagayan Valley.

All other online gambling businesses located in the Philippines are licensed and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). These destinations are also off limits to Filipino players. The only gambling sites that are legally accessible are licensed and regulated offshore casinos that accept players from the Philippines.

How Do I Find A Legal Online Casino Accepting Players In The Philippines?

Your best bet is to rely on the information provided by industry professionals who are involved in the evaluation and ranking of online gambling sites. They are trained to analyze online casino businesses and determine their legitimacy, quality and value to players.

Our team of online gambling analysts has placed each brand through an intense review process to reveal the premium casino destinations and expose the questionable and undesirable options. Each of our recommendations has been tested and approved by our pros, and is guaranteed to be legally licensed and regulated as well as extremely high quality.

What Types of Legal Online Casino Games Can Filipino Residents Play?

Slots

Legal Online Slots in the Philippines - This page will provide you with insight into what types of legal online slots games are available to Filipino players, as well as where to find premium online slot machines from licensed, premium online slots casinos.

Blackjack

Legal Online Blackjack in the Philippines - Legal Online Blackjack for Filipino Players – One of the most popular online and offline casino games, legal blackjack games are readily available online for Filipino players. Get the who, why and where from our this informational guide.

Roulette

Legal Online Roulette in the Philippines - Another very popular gaming venue in the Philippines and around the world, legal online roulette games provide convenient online access to a variety of roulette games, including American roulette, European roulette, and even French roulette. This guide will provide you with information about playing roulette online in the Philippines.

Baccarat

Philippines Online Gambling China Stocks

Legal Online Baccarat in the Philippines - This guide will reveal the best destinations for Filipino residents to enjoy legal online baccarat, as well as some helpful tips on learning to play for free.

Pai Gow

Legal Online Pai Gow in the Philippines - Pai Gow is one of the most popular casino games among Filipino residents. It is not wonder since it is an Asian inspired game. There are versions of this game available at some of the online casinos that legally accept players from the Philippines. You can learn the ins and outs of playing Pai Gow online legally from this guide.

Mahjong

Legal Online Mahjong In The Philippines - Mahjong is one of the oldest traditional table games available to play at online casinos. In recent years, the tile-based game has grown in popularity around the world and is now a go-to game for many players looking to wager on their strategy and skill.

Keno

Legal Online Keno in the Phillippines - Keno is a beloved numbers game that derived in China and has become popular around the world. The popular game is often described as a casino's lottery. Our guide to playing keno in the Phillippines will give you useful information involving the game and have you ready to try your luck.

Live Dealer Casino Games

Live Dealer Casinos in the Philippines - Live Dealer gambling online has become the latest craze in the Internet gambling industry, and the Philippines are no exception to this trend. Learn what live dealer games are and how to access them in this guide.

Mobile Casino Games

You will find that there are numerous Philippines mobile casinos available, all of which are compatible across most mobile devices and networks. These mobile casino applications are web based, mobile optimized apps that allow players to access their favorite casino games, fund their account and manage their preferences all from a smartphone or tablet.

Other Forms Of Legal Online Gambling For Filipino Gamblers

There are several other options for Filipino residents seeking licensed and regulated online gambling entertainment. Players can legitimately gamble at without violating any of the nation's gambling laws.

Sports Betting

Legal Online Sports Betting In The Philippines - A complete guide for betting on sports like Basketball, Baseball, Boxing, Football and Soccer legally for Filipino players. This section of our site also includes information specifically for those Filipino residents interested in learning more about legally sanctioned online sportsbooks offering Super Bowl 52 betting lines for Philippines residents.

Poker

Legal Online Poker in the Philippines - For anyone looking to play poker, we review the leading legally licensed sites here.

e-Sports

Electronic sports (e-Sports) is one of the newest things to produce betting odds. While e-sport betting has been around for a while it is just now starting to gain mass popularity on the betting circuit. Our guide to e-Sports betting will fill you in on all the details you need to know before placing a bet on video gamers.

Horse Race Betting

Horse race betting has been a long-standing tradition for many Filipinos. Our legal horse betting guide will cover all aspects of the sport and offer key pointers on how to benefit from online sportsbooks.

In the Philippines, players can gamble as long as they are 18 years of age.

The online gambling deposit methods available to Filipino gamblers include a variety of virtual banking options to accommodate multiple player preferences. You will find the following types of funding methods available: credit cards, debit cards, prepaid options, cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin), eWallets, and more. Visit our page deposit guide for Philippines players for more information.

You might find a few sites that offer gambling in Philippines Pesos. But most of them offer either USD, British Pounds or Euros. You can view current USD to Philippines Pesos conversion rates here.

Yea, I know a lot of them look too good to be true. I can assure you that these are in fact legitimate bonus offers and are simply a way for online casinos to attract new customers. We are gamblers too, so we only recommend the most reputable websites that we know can be trusted and will always pay on time.

Inside a well-lit Manila studio, a young Filipino woman in heavy make-up and a low-cut black dress deals card for a game of baccarat, a popular game in casinos worldwide. But she stands alone - the players are thousands of miles away in mainland China.

A camera directly opposite produces a video stream which is then marketed to the mainland, where gambling is illegal. Anyone who wants in on the bet must use a VPN to circumvent China's Great Firewall, which the government uses to keep a tight leash on its domestic internet.

After each hand, the dealer deftly swipes the card across a bar code to update the website and show the players if they have won or lost. More data is sent to a server operated by a Hong Kong-based tech company that works around the clock to keep hackers at bay.

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The dealers have their profiles on players' screens and they will interact with players if they get tips, according to a former employee of the tech company

'Their attractiveness is also part of what draws players.'

As China returns to a pre-coronavirus lifestyle, the government is working hard to contain an online gambling scene that has worsened due to months of strict lockdown measures.

'Covid-19 was good for business, there was an increase in users that even caused the system to break down a couple of times,' the former tech employee said.

China's security apparatus hinted at the uptick in online gambling since the Covid-19 outbreak. The Ministry of Public Security published a statement in April which said, 'especially since the outbreak of the new coronavirus, overseas casinos and gambling websites have increased their efforts to lure our citizens.'

Gambling was outlawed in China when the Communist Party took power in 1949 and has remained banned. Despite the legal restrictions, mainland Chinese have found ways to place their bets - going overseas or traveling to the gambling hub of the Macau special administrative region.

The emergence of online gambling - also illegal under Chinese law - has provided another opportunity for China's gamblers, who bet an estimated $145 billion a year through online sites, according to a 2019 report by Economic Information Daily, an affiliate of state news agency Xinhua.

According to the former tech employee in Hong Kong, there are dangers for players online where, unlike a real casino, they can gamble on credit rather than pay their money upfront to buy into a game.

'It's worse for the player in that they don't realize how much they are losing,' he said, adding that he was aware of one online gambling platform which turned over around $130 million in daily transactions.

Ben Lee, managing partner at Macau-based gaming consultancy iGamix, said most online platforms targeting the mainland China market were based in the Philippines, where gambling is legal.

'Many of these firms are in A-grade office towers, fronting as call centers located in Makati,' he said, referring to Manila's financial district.

According to Lee, the Chinese market took off in 2016 with the election of President Rodrigo Duterte. Soon after taking office, Duterte appointed a new chairman to the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a state-owned enterprise that runs its own casinos as well as issuing licenses and regulating privately owned venues.

Under its new head, Andrea Domingo, PAGCOR began issuing licenses specifically for online gambling firms catering to markets outside the country, granting them the official designation of Philippines Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo).

As the playing field quickly became crowded, mainland China's huge, albeit illegal, demand for gambling opened up a new frontier.

Lee - who has worked in the Filipino casino industry - estimates that for every Pogo there are eight to 10 solution providers that pay a lease fee for the video signal. These unlicensed firms are the main drivers of online gambling into mainland China.

'(The solution providers) take that signal and they relabel it and then they are the ones basically acting as the online casino,' he said. Names like Galaxy, one of the world's biggest casino operators, and pioneering online gambling website Casino 888, are copycatted to add an air of legitimacy.

The Chinese government is well aware that the Philippines is the linchpin of the country's online gambling market.

In August last year, its Manila embassy put it on the record, saying 'the casinos and offshore gaming operators (Pogos) and other forms of gambling entities in the Philippines target Chinese citizens as their primary customers.'

The embassy said a conservative estimate of the gambling-related funds flowing illegally from China to the Philippines amounted to hundreds of millions of yuan every year.

According to the former tech employee, some solution providers avoid the Chinese authorities' detection by operating a large number of personal bank accounts.

Vast sums of money can be broken down among these accounts until they are small enough to be sent overseas without falling foul of China's capital outflow rules.

A call center-like office is then set up in Manila where Filipinos manage transfers to and from the Chinese bank accounts. To avoid suspicion, accounts are left alone for a few days after each transfer.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the Chinese government has launched multiple campaigns targeting online gambling on different fronts, from the financial plumbing underpinning the industry to the public allure of placing a bet.

One campaign launched by the Ministry of Public Security in February led to the closure of 27,000 bank accounts involved in cross-border gambling within four months, according to a report by Global Times, a Chinese state-run tabloid.

On August 13, the Communist Party's propaganda department joined forces with the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Public Security to launch a social media campaign against cross-border gambling.

According to Lee, the Chinese government has previously gone straight to the source of the problem.

'They've got their agents crawling on the ground in Manila - and they have done this three or four times already - they will tell the Filipino immigration department we have identified '800, 900, 1,000 mainland Chinese nationals, we've canceled their passports, we will send a charter flight to pick them up, please take them out,' he said.

Philippines Online Gambling China Laws

The Macau-based consultant said the Chinese government had other weapons at its disposal that it was not using. Most of the internet traffic into China went through Hong Kong as a gateway to the mainland.

'Any digital signal, any signal of any sort that is related to gaming, it is illegal for it to be carried through Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government could set up filters to make it illegal for local telecom providers to let these people access their gateways,' said Lee.

The industry, in turn, is looking for new ways to evolve. According to the ex-employee of the Hong Kong-based tech company, many solution providers are interested in moving their transactions with mainland Chinese users onto cryptocurrency accounts.

However, he said, this brought its own set of problems.

'The Chinese government loses control in this way but then the problem is that the value of cryptocurrency fluctuates.'