Guide to Online Gambling in PH: The Best Filipino Gambling Sites for 2020

Top Online Gambling Sites in the Philippines

The online gambling market in the Philippines is one of the most well-developed in Asia, and lots of operators are taking advantage of this. However, we’ve decided to present to you below the top platforms that stand out with quality products, great offers, and proven legal status in the country:

Types of Online Gambling in the Philippines

We know that our readers would like to have more information about the available game types. That’s why in the following paragraphs, we’ll present to you the most important details around the different options for online gaming in the Philippines. Stay with us until the end, as this valuable information can be helpful for your own gameplay!

Online Casino Gaming in the Philippines

Casino operators are undoubtedly some of the most popular gambling sites in the Philippines, and the games they offer provide excellent winning opportunities. Depending on your style of play, you may find games of chance or others that would require the use of skill and even strategy. Various slot apps are preferred by many Filipinos as their features have the potential to sky-rocket your winnings, though table games remain a classic that is most played by high-rollers. Regardless of your choice, there are always welcome bonuses that complement the game selections, and below we’ve added the best one available in the Philippines!

Sports Betting

If you’re looking for a different type of online gambling in the Philippines, you should know that the top sports betting sites provide some great options as well. With the advancement of various platforms, this market isn’t all that niche anymore, and Filipinos can place bets on their favorite sports with the simple click of a button. A great example would be the best tennis betting sites. Apart from classical bets, you can mix up your game and make more complicated selections depending on the sport you prefer wagering on. Of course, just like with online casinos, players from the Philippines can use to their advantage certain welcome bonuses that can make a significant difference for a positive outcome. Just enter the top operator below and check its sports betting offer for yourself!

Daily Fantasy

Daily fantasy is also among the new online gambling games that it’s worth to play in the Philippines. As an innovative option, daily fantasy sports are gaining more and more popularity across players, and the perks it offers are quite appealing. Creating your custom lineups, weekly prizes, and various tournaments make this game unique, and there is one operator that is among the top DFS websites in the world. Don’t hesitate to check its offer as it can be quite helpful if you’re just getting started with this type of gaming!

Online Poker

Surely, there are card fans who would like to experience the thrill of one of the most classic gambling games out there- poker. Combining luck and mostly skill, online poker has become a great option to earn a living by playing cards. Whether you prefer playing tournaments, cash tables, or being a part of the VIP club brings you excitement, the choice is big, and there are lots of opportunities awaiting. As a whole, this type of gaming continues to evolve, and since the PAGCOR is aware of its benefits, it was legalized back in 2006. Needless to say, we’ve listed the best poker operator for Filipinos, so don’t miss out on the tables and

Lottery

If you enjoy gaming in a way that doesn’t require a whole lot of time and effort, you can always enter some lottery draws. Although lotto play is not that common across most operators, it can be seen at some of the best online gambling in the Philippines. Pick your numbers, place your wager, and hope for the best! Eager to find out more? Check out more details in the operator from the following table!

Online Gambling Guide for Filipino Players

Although we’ve covered the most playable gaming titles in the Philippines, other important aspects need to be observed. Whether it would be safety, payout percentages, or the importance of software companies, our guide covers all of the most valuable gaming information in the country. Players should always be informed about the most important characteristics, so if you’re a Filipino in search of a specific gambling topic, don’t hesitate to use the quick navigation below!

Gambling Licence & Safety in the Philippines

Before continuing with the most important aspects of the best gambling sites in the Philippines, we would like to properly address safety and all organizations responsible for the smooth operating of online casino sites. Surely, the PAGCOR is the institution responsible for gaming regulations in the country, but there are other international companies that help with the control of gambling addiction, transparency of gaming, and fairness of software. Below we’ve included the most frequently seen third-party companies and licensing organizations that can be of help for Filipinos!

How to Spot a Great Product: Games and Bets

Next, in our online gambling guide, we’ll have a look at the different products Filipino players can enjoy. Regardless of bonuses, VIP clubs, and payment methods, nothing would be meaningful if the products are not of the highest of qualities. What this means is that gambling games should cover very important criteria like betting diversity, gaming variety, features, and good return-to-player rates. To be more detailed about how to choose the best game product that would suit your goals, don’t miss out on the following table!

Most Popular Online Gambling Games in the Philippines

Next, in our online gambling in the Philippines guide, we’ll look at the games of chance with the best payouts in the country. If you are a fan of baccarat, for example, there are many reputable baccarat gambling sites accepting players from the Philippines. Since casino games are the most popular among gamblers, we decided to include them in this paragraph as they also have great RTP percentages. While some of them rely mostly on predetermined algorithms, others require the use of skill, so generally speaking, there’s a little bit of everything at online casino games. Don’t miss out on our list as it will give you an idea of the theoretical performance of casino games!

Best Bonuses for Online Gambling in the Philippines

The importance of having high-quality gambling products is certain, but operators do their best to enhance overall player satisfaction by offering a number of added benefits such as welcome bonuses, a fundamental in online gaming that is often the driving force for players. Filipinos are also keeping their eyes wide open for promotions that can give them a great head start, but we’ve made sure to include only the top welcome offers that will surely inspire the interest of many. Most of them are in Philippine pesos, making their use effortless without the need for currency exchanges!

Gambling Sites with the Best Payouts

Knowing payout percentages is of crucial importance for players, and we’ve done our best to present to Filipinos only the most reliable platforms in the industry. In doing so, Filipino players are able to more easily make up their minds and place bets at sites that are backed by verified testing labs, increasing the chances of safely scoring great prizes. This is essential for the best online gambling sites, and the following table provides all of the necessary details for you to check out yourself!

Accepted Payment Methods at PH Gambling Sites

Not only does the Philippines online gambling market offer great games but it also provides excellent payment services, allowing Filipinos to deposit or withdraw funds via methods that they are comfortable with. To give you a look into the diversity of options, we’ve included below a number of payment methods supported at the top online gaming sites in the Philippines:

1. e-Wallets:
   1. Skrill
   2. ePay
   3. B-pay
   4. Pay4fun
   5. QIWI
   6. PayPal
   7. Neteller
   8. Instadebit
2. Credit/Debit Cards:
   1. Visa
   2. MasterCard
   3. Visa Electron
3. Bank Transfers:
   1. iDebit
   2. Rapid Transfer
   3. GTB
   4. Online Bank Transfer
4. Other:
   1. Bitcoin
   2. Litecoin
   3. ApplePay
   4. Citadel
   5. Boku
   6. Interac Online
   7. Paysafecard

Mobile Gambling Apps

Are you tired of entering an online gambling site from your PC? Or maybe you aren’t new to playing on the go but look for the best apps around? In both cases, you’ve reached the right place as we’ll cover the best gambling apps in the industry. Filipinos are well-aware of the benefits of mobile gameplay and, similar to other players, mostly enjoy entering gaming platforms from the comfort of their phones. That’s why in the table below, we’ve included the top-rated mobile apps in the country, alongside their minimum requirements. Bear in mind that if you’re not a fan of applications, the below-mentioned platforms are accessible from mobile browsers as well!

Safe & Fair Gambling Software

The games which you like so much are dependant on the developments and improvements provided by their creators – gambling software companies. Some of the more experienced Filipino players are well-aware of this and go as far as to analyze the offerings from particular software companies. However, in this case, we’ve included the best creators of gambling games you can try at our best suggestions:

Online Gambling the Philippines Laws & Regulations

All of the information mentioned above would mean nothing if the market in the Philippines isn’t regulated properly. That’s why in the second part of our online gambling review, we’ll provide extensive information about all valuable legal information, including online and land-based regulations, taxation, minimum gaming age, and many more. For your convenience, we’ve added a navigation panel below if you’re interested in a particular legal gambling aspect.

Is Online Gambling Legal in the Philippines?

Not only is online gambling legal in the Philippines, but it also provides lots of gaming opportunities for players. Online sports betting, casinos, poker, and lotteries have been legalized in the country. However, daily fantasy sports remain with unclear legal status, but we hope that it will soon follow the steps of other gambling games in the Philippines.

Land-Based Gambling in the Philippines

When it comes to land-based gambling, the Filipino government has a more conservative approach, so you can expect a difference in legal online and land-based games. Sports betting, for example, isn’t legalized, but horse racing and even cockfighting have been approved by the government. For the fans of casino games, we’re happy to say that they can safely participate in any land-based games such as slots, blackjack, roulettes, and others. However, where is it best to play? Look no further than the list below, where we’ll reveal the biggest gambling brands in the Philippines!

Regional Gambling Laws in the Philippines

When it comes to gambling in various regions, two main territories need to be observed in the Philippines. The first one is related to the capital of the country – the Metro Manilla. Logically, it has the most land-based operators in the country, with over 20 casinos operating on its territory. Lots of gambling games have been made legal, so players can wager in casinos, on online sports betting sites, lotteries, online poker, and even Filipino online casinos.

The other region is the Cagayan Valley. This territory relies mostly on tourism, and currently, only the city of Santa Ana has land-based casinos. However, the main difference between Metro Manilla and the Cagayan Valley regulations is that Filipinos from the latter are allowed to gamble online only at offshore gambling sites.

Official Regulatory Bodies

One of the official regulators of gambling in the Philippines is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, also known as PAGCOR. Founded back in 1977, this institution has been helping with the issuance of licenses, control of the gaming market, and ensuring the transparency of games.

Similar to it, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, also known as CEZA, is responsible for the gambling regulations in the Cagayan Valley region. This was made possible with the enactment of the Republic Act 7922, and in 1995 the creation of this legal body was official. Apart from that, it is independent of PAGCOR and has its missions and values. Below we’ve included official contact channels and other valuable information around these Filipino gambling regulators:

Is Online Gambling Taxable in the Philippines?

Just like in other countries, the Philippines have strict laws, and taxation is one of them. However, since the country has legalized offshore gambling sites, it’s important to note that those operators are subject to a 5% franchise tax. For gambling winnings, however, operators are subject to a 50% tax rate which the government collects. After that, these funds are distributed for the improvement of infrastructure and civic projects.

Legal Gambling Age in the Philippines

Just like any other country, the Philippines are very strict when it comes to controlling the minimum gambling age in the country. For poker and casino play, gamblers can’t be under the age of 21 years old, but lottery fans can gamble from the age of 18. Apart from that, this requirement is the same for offshore gambling sites as well. Regardless of their requirements, Filipinos need to abide by the law in their country. If they don’t do so, they can face some serious charges for participating in underage gambling activities.

Filipino Advertising Laws

The Philippines are not only one of the most regulated countries in the world, but they also have various laws that are working in favor of their nation. One of them is their advertising law, and since gambling is a sensitive topic, certain regulations need to be included. The Ad Standards Council of the Philippines makes sure that all advertisements are up to standards. The main purpose of this non-profit organization is the screening and monitoring of ads for fairness and truth, but apart from that, the Ad Standards Council can settle disputes and hear complaints. PAGCOR is also one of the legal entities that fall under the control and monitoring of the ASC.

Penalties for Illegal Gambling in the Philippines

Laws need to be abided by, and just like in any other sphere, crossing the legal line leads to certain penalties. In the filed of illegal gambling, there are lots of ways to fall in the grey sector. Some of the most popular ones include organizing illegal gambling games, money laundering, tax evasion, underage gambling, and more. To show you how strict the Filipino gaming laws are, we’ll provide you with official information on the penalties for some of the most frequent gaming crimes in the country:

Upcoming Regulation Changes

When it comes to expected regulations and law amendments, we do hope that the Filipino government legalizes officially daily fantasy sports. There have been debates going on back and forth, but clearly, there isn’t an official decision on the matter. As far as gambling taxes go within the country, we wouldn’t be surprised if the government increases them in the near future. Results are showing that although the gambling market in the country is doing great, numbers haven’t reached the expected revenue for the past year. Offshore operators, also known as POGO’s, also could face an increase in their franchise taxes with 5%, so generally speaking, Filipinos might see some changes soon.

Responsible Gambling & Addiction Prevention

Responsible gambling is something that operators from all around the world are helping spread the word about. Gambling addiction which is caused by misinformation and greed has become a major problem and unfortunately, there are more and more players who fall victim to the trap. That’s why the Philippines are also involved in the fight with gambling problems and all of our top suggestions partner with organizations such as GamStop, BeGambleAware, and Gamblers Annonymous. Below we’ve added links that can be helpful for Filipino players if they feel that the fun stops and addiction kicks in:

Online Gambling in the Philippines Trivia – Curious Facts

One very interesting custom in the Philippines is gambling during funerals. It is considered as a tradition to honor the dead. The games which are played are traditional for Filipinos – they can often be Sakla, mahjong, and even the kids can place some bets on fighting spiders. Furthermore, a part of the winnings is shared with the family of the deceased to help cover the costs of the funeral. Apart from this tradition, there are other interesting ways of placing bets in the Philippines. We’ve mentioned spider wrestling, but horse fighting and other blood sports can also be seen in the country during a particular time of the year.

History of Gambling in the Philippines

The Philippines is rich in gaming history, and we would like to address it properly for those of you who are curious to know more about the market in the country. In the table below, we’ve included the most significant years in terms of gambling in the Philippines alongside the events that mark a certain beginning or meaningful regulations. As we’re talking about a country full of gambling traditions and well-structured regulations, you’ll surely find the following milestones amusing!

Famous Land-Based Casino and Gambling Resorts

Looking at the online gambling landscape in the Philippines, some punters might consider land-based casino play as well. We assure you that the resorts we’ve listed below are of the highest quality with an abundance of games and various events. Apart from that, they are located close to beaches with breathtaking views, giving players and tourists, in general, a complete and unique package. Without further ado, let’s see the biggest casino resorts in the Philippines, alongside the most famous resorts in the country:

Famous Gamblers and Poker Players from the Philippines

The online gambling landscape in the Philippines has produced some famous players, and we would like to present to you the most famous ones around. They are all a part of poker, which proved to be a very popular and profitable card game, to say the least. Filipinos are also aware of the advantages which come with this type of gambling, and the country has representatives who are among the best in the world. Just check down below the poker millionaires we’ve included, alongside their current earnings!

Online Gambling vs. Land-Based Gambling in the Philippines

Since we’ve provided lots of details around online and land-based gambling, why not compare them both? Surely, each one has its advantages and disadvantages, and depending on player preferences, they might be different for every individual. However, online casinos prevail in the field of easy access, as all you need to have is a strong Internet connection on your device.

Of course, nothing can beat the live-action at land-based casinos, where management relies on high-quality games and exceptional customer service. While casino resorts might not offer the best possible bonuses, online gambling is still struggling with fighting the grey side of the market. Regardless of your choice, here are the top online and land-based casinos in the Philippines!

More Useful Guides and Interesting Articles

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Philippines Gambling

After revealing all of the most important details around the online gambling in the Philippines market, it’s time to have a look at the most popular questions on the subject. The answers we’ve included can be quite helpful for our readers, so don’t miss out on the details included in the next paragraphs!