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.

When engaging in various types of gambling, the individual must understand what the state defines as legal and illegal to prevent possible charges or conviction for illegal activity in the state. Some states define certain activities as illegal because of the use of the internet while others will consider amateur gambling at home as illegal. In 1978, Presidential Decree No. 1602 became the Philippines second gambling law made by the President which details penalties for illegal gambling. The law essentially also says that legal forms of gambling like sports betting, slots, poker, horse race betting, and more are only authorized if adequately licensed by a credible Philippine regulator. What Is The Penalty For Illegal Gambling In The Philippines? According to the Republic Act No. 9287, the penalty for illegal gambling can be anywhere from 30 days to 20 years imprisonment, depending on the offense. 30-90 days for a person caught in the act of illegal gambling participating as a bettor. 6-8 years for personal or staff of an. WHEREAS, Philippine Gambling Laws such as Articles 195-199 of the Revised Penal Code (Forms of Gambling and Betting), R.A. 3063 (Horse racing Bookies), P.D. 449 (Cockfighting), P.D. 483 (Game Fixing), P.D. 510 (Slot Machines) in relation to Opinion Nos. 33 and 97 of the Ministry of Justice, P.D. 1306 (Jai-Alai Bookies) and other City and Municipal Ordinances or gambling all over the country prescribe penalties which are inadequate to discourage or stamp out this pernicious activities.

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

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

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.

Types Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Government

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.

Types Of Illegal Gambling In The Philippines Us

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.

THERE are legal and illegal gambling. Legal gambling are those covered with permits and under government regulations, like the operations of Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), which now includes the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogo), Philippine Charity Sweeptakes Office (PCSO), which operates the Lotto jackpot, three digits and the Small Town Lottery (STL), horse racing and the cockfight arena. Those classified as illegal are those that fall under Presidential Decree 1602 or the illegal Gambling Law.
Is holding gambling during wakes illegal? I pose this question after the police issued a stern warning against those who hold gambling during wakes, saying they will arrest participants. This, after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa ordered his men to intensify police operations against any forms of illegal gambling.
Police Regional Office (PRO 7) Chief Albert Ignatius Ferro warned the public that they would arrest those caught gambling during the holding of wakes. However, Ferro said that since gambling during wakes is considered a part of our culture, he would allow gambling, but only one table would be allowed during wakes. More than that, they’d arrest people caught gambling on extra tables.
Whether holding gambling during wakes is illegal or not, our authorities should be lenient and considerate since it is part of our practice, culture and tradition. And these are only for pastime.
It is part of the Filipino tradition, specially for Roman Catholic believers that when someone dies, it is customary to hold a wake. Practitioners of some religions, such as Islam, bury their dead immediately within 24 hours. Wakes usually last several days, especially when the family is waiting for the arrival of close relatives. In the provinces, they usually last nine days, which is the length of time for the novena (prayer) to conclude, because of financial considerations.
If they bury their dead early, they would prepare food for those who will attend the funeral. And in the last day of the novena or locally known as “tapus,” they would prepare food again and end up feeding those who will attend. In order to save money, they would prepare only a few times, which is during the burial and at the end of the nine-day novena. Magpreparar kag monggos, sawayon pa ka. Moingon nang uban, “Patuga-tuga ug kamatay, monggos ra man diay.”
Part of our tradition is allowing gambling like mahjong, pusoy, dama, chess, tong-its and other card games like blackjack, piyat-piyat, lucky nine, poker, baccarat and other derivatives that are popularly played on the streets and not in casinos to keep visitors awake and alive, especially in the wee hours of midnight. Gambling during wakes is for pasttime only. The people’s primary intention in going there is not to gamble, but to pay their last respects to the dead and to sympathize with the bereaved family. We will not be praying all the time for the dead. But in order to keep themselves awake, they indulge in gambling with only little winnings. Dili gyud pamugas ba. Lingaw-lingaw lang. Daginuton pa gyud na sa mga pulis. Gawas pa, ang “tong” ihatag man sa tagtungod para pang-snacks ug coffee.
The Ilonggos who are fond of playing mahjong usually hold wakes for several weeks or even months so they can play the game for a long time. They even sometimes rent an unclaimed cadaver from a funeral parlor so they can hold vigil and play mahjong. That is the tradition of the Illongos. Now, they want to put a stop to this kind of tradition because it is illegal? Why doesn’t the police intensify its operations against jueteng, masiao and the illegal STL, which disguises itself under the legal lotto three-digit combination? They cannot concentrate on these gambling activities because they are making it their “milking cow”? Just asking.