Best online casinos in the Philippines 2024

History of casino gambling in the Philippines

The Philippines has been dancing with gambling for a long, long time. The Story of gambling traces back to the Spanish colonial era. During the 16th century, the high-rise portion of the population favored gambling as their preferred method of entertainment. As time passed by, it became popular across all levels of society.

Manila saw its first casinos open in the 1930s. They were catered to a very distinguished clientele, but as tourism started to grow, casinos got bigger, and by the 1990s, casinos were all over the place. The Internet changed the landscape of betting as online casino sites became more popular. Filipinos found it more comfortable to play from home instead of having to go to a land-based casino to play. This also initiated a battle among the government in an effort to regulate these casinos, but it has been a hard endeavor.

As of today, the casino industry is huge, with The Philippines being a major hub of gambling in the region and the best new casinos available to play. More than 150 casinos are operating in the country, generating a revenue of billions of dollars annually. This has created a significant tax income for the government, generating hundreds of thousands of employment over the years.

How are online casinos regulated in The Philippines?

PAGCOR regulates all online gambling activities within the country. PAGCOR stands for Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. This government-controlled corporation oversees all gambling activities in the country and verifies that the Gambling Laws and Regulations in The Philippines comply with them. They are responsible for issuing licenses to online Philippine casinos; they constantly monitor their operations, making sure they comply with all the policies established by the authority.

Getting a license is a complex process, as aspirants need to meet several complex requirements. They need to demonstrate financial stability alongside an unpolluted record of good gaming practices. If they choose the online route, they must guarantee that all cybersecurity requirements are met. They need to comply with all fair game regulations and must make a compromise in helping players manage their gambling behavior.

PAGCOR constantly monitors all casinos, looks for policy breaches, and investigates all customer complaints. In case of violations, PAGCOR can impose fines, suspend licenses temporarily, or even revoke them. They can also prosecute online casinos for serious financial crimes like money laundering or fraud.

Reviews of the best PH online casinos

The Philippines' thriving online casino industry offers thrills and excitement for users. We have compiled a list of the top 5 online casinos in the country to help users find the best ones to play at.

#1 1xBet

1xbet offers new players a 100% welcome bonus of up to 120.000 PHP, split over the first four deposits. The bonus must be wagered a minimum of 35 times.

#2 Megapari

Megapari has made a significant impact on the online gambling scene in the Philippines. A 35x wagering requirement must be used within seven days.

#3 22Bet

22Bet offers new players a 100% deposit bonus of up to 7,500 PHP. There is a 50x wagering requirement on the bonuses.

#4 20Bet

20Bet is a user-friendly online casino offering up to 14,000 PHP plus 120 free spins for Philippines players.

#5 1Bet

New players on 1Bet casino are rewarded with a welcome bonus of up to 30,500 PHP plus 150 free spins. The bonus must be wagered a minimum of 60x within 21 days of activation.

The best casinos in the Philippines: Comparison

We have made a list of the best online casinos in the Philippines, factoring in essential elements like security features, deposit methods, and bonuses to assist you in choosing the right casino.

Main provisions of the Philippine Gambling Act

The Philippines sets the minimum age to participate in any form of gambling at 21 years old. This also includes online casinos. This restriction is clearly stated in the Section 73.1 of the Act. Athletes are allowed to play in gambling activities as they don’t have any specific conditions because of their condition.

Online casinos are different from land-based casinos in the country. They require a different license to operate legally in the country. License for online casinos reflects the additional requirements when it comes to cybersecurity and gambling addiction management. This license also contemplates the technical standard to make the game secure for players when it comes to data security and randomness of the game.

There are also stronger regulations when it comes to advertising, as online advertising has the risk of exposing minors to the game, so they need to follow specific guidelines for this. PAGCOR has a strong online regulation that is constantly searching for any breach in the regulations. The country has battled for quite a while to maintain the online betting situation, and therefore, they enforce really strict guidelines.

PAGCOR is also very strict when it comes to player safety. Online casinos must implement programs for self-exclusions, enforce deposit limits, and make sure the player and his well-being are placed before any chance of profiting from the casino. They force the casino to restrict temporarily or permanently any client who is suspicious of bad gambling behaviors.

Gambling taxes in The Philippines

Both land-based casinos and online casinos are taxed under a comprehensive system. Taxes from gambling activities are one of the main sources of revenue for the government, which uses it to develop the country through different programs and investments.

There are different forms of taxes in the Philippines, with the first one being the GGR or gross gaming revenue. This is a 30% taxed over the casino's gross income. Both land-based and online casinos must pay this tax. Next, there is VAT, which amounts to 5% and applies to winnings, deposits, and withdrawals.

Apart from taxes, licenses are an important part of government-generated revenue through the casino and gambling system. Both land-based and online casinos must pay an annual and monthly fee. The fee is higher for land-based casinos.

The most popular casino games in The Philippines

Being a popular gambling hub, The Philippines has a lot of players who have preferences for different games. With more than 150 casinos, there are thousands of slot machines all over the island without taking into consideration the ones that you can find online. So, it’s not a surprise to say that slots are the favorite casino game in the country. Easy to play and with different themes, all players can find a game they like and love. Next, we can find roulette, which is a fan favorite for all the thrill involved in the game. Card games like baccarat are also popular among players. Some casinos are also known for offering pusoy dos, a traditional Filipino card game.

The most famous casino players in The Philippines

In a country with a vibrant gambling community, there are some famous personalities that can be mentioned. For example, Toto Leonida has been famous for having attended and won several high-profile poker tournaments. He has won over $3.200.000 playing poker professionally. On the same lines, we can also mention Mike Takayama, who in 2018 was named the top Asian player.

There are also stories of people who won big prizes but have decided to be anonymous for different reasons. One man got a work meeting canceled, and he decided to visit the casino. While randomly playing on a machine to kill some time, he won 36 million Philippine pesos.

Future of online casinos in The Philippines

The future of online casinos in the Philippines looks really bright, and there are several reasons to support this. The increasing penetration of smartphones among the population makes it easier for people to have access to mobile casinos in The Philippines for betting. Also, with higher speed connections, they can start enjoying a more immersive experience playing live casino games via streaming. Thanks to the constant regulation from PAGCOR, it is possible to enjoy a healthy gambling environment that is fair for all parties involved. We must not forget that new technologies like blockchain are also taking the world of gambling by storm, and the country could also be an adopter of these technologies.