What is PAGCOR?
PAGCOR（Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation）
Description: PAGCOR is an agency of the Philippine government responsible for regulating and managing the gaming industry nationwide. Founded in 1977, PAGCOR not only manages casinos, but also regulates online gambling and lotteries.
Responsibilities: Supervise and issue gaming licenses to ensure the legality and transparency of gaming operations. PAGCOR is also responsible for supporting government social and infrastructure projects through gaming revenue.
Relationship with POGO and PIGO: PAGCOR is the main regulatory agency for POGO and PIGO and is responsible for approving and supervising the operations of these two types of licenses.
What is POGO?
POGO（Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator）
Description: The POGO license is for the international market of non-Filipinos and provides online gambling services;
License Description: Licensed operators are allowed to set up bases in the Philippines, but only for overseas customers. Currently, it is basically impossible to apply for it;
License features: One license can be divided into many licenses, and multiple brands can be operated at the same time;
Target audience: Mainly international users, local users in the Philippines cannot access these platforms;
Tax policy: Operators are required to pay a 5% gross receipts tax (GGR), and a 25% income tax for foreign employees. There are also hefty license fees to pay.
What is PIGO?
PIGO（Philippine Inland Gaming Operator）
Note: The PIGO license is for the Philippine local market and provides online gambling services;
Brief description of the license: Licensed operators are allowed to provide online gambling services to local users in the Philippines. The basic application fee for the license is 50M Peso, but it is currently difficult to apply;
License characteristics: One license corresponds to one brand and needs to be linked to an offline physical store;
Target audience: Philippine local residents;
Tax policy: Operators are required to pay a 35% gross receipts tax (GGR), which is planned to be reduced to 30% in 2025.
in conclusion
PAGCOR, as the main regulatory agency, manages and supervises the operation of POGO and PIGO licenses to ensure the legality and transparency of the gaming industry. POGO mainly targets the international market, while PIGO serves local users. The two have different tax policies and operational requirements.
