June 11, 2024 - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has been lauded for its significant increase in revenue collection from offshore gaming licensees (OGLs) in 2023. Albay Representative Joey Salceda, chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee, commended PAGCOR's efforts in a statement released on Tuesday.
Key Points:
- PAGCOR collected PHP5.1 billion from OGLs in 2023, a 71% increase compared to 2022.
- This improvement comes despite stricter regulations and a decrease in the total number of licensees (87 in 2023 vs. 158 in 2022).
- Salceda highlights a shift from quantity to quality, with stricter licensing leading to higher revenue per licensee.
- The number of directly hired Chinese workers in the OGL sector has significantly decreased, from a peak of 200,000 to around 8,500 currently.
- The industry now employs more Filipinos (around 25,000) and Vietnamese workers (around 11,000) than Chinese nationals.
- Salceda commends PAGCOR's role in apprehending illegal offshore gaming operations and urges the agency to better publicize its accomplishments.
Overall, the report emphasizes PAGCOR's success in transforming the OGL sector into a more regulated and Filipino-inclusive industry.