The casinos in the country generate 4,000 direct jobs and another 15,000 indirect jobs.
Dominican Republic.- The president of the Association of Casino Games (ADCJ), David José Moniz reported that the gambling sector contributes approximately RD$ 3,211m (USD 52,700) per year. Of this total, the casino sector accounts for about 40 percent.
The figures were issued by the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII), a dependency of the Ministry of Finance, according to José Moniz who detailed that in the country there are 2,500 sports betting shops and 70,000 lottery outlets.
Regarding the productivity of casinos and how it boosts the national economy from the hotel, financial, and fiscal sectors, a corporate investigation by the ADCJ establishes that it has 4,000 direct employees and 15,000 indirect employees throughout the value chain.
Moniz also referred to the responsible gaming bill that is currently under consideration. "It is a law that is just being submitted now, many of the associates have been practicing it for a long time, we promote entertainment and fun, pleasant times and spaces," highlighted the head of the ADCJ, and then added: "Everything has a sense of responsibility, we are an entertainment center, we are a part more where we provide our customers not only with bets, but also musical activities, shows and more."
See also: Fiscal reform in the Dominican Republic: a new tax on gambling is proposed
Sherwin Gatchalian said the PNP needed more funding to support intelligence gathering.
The Philippines.- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has proposed the Philippine National Police (PNP) be granted more funding for intelligence work to help it tackle offshore gaming operators. He said the PNP’s intelligence fund had decreased from PHP1.356bn (US$23.2m) in 2023 to PHP906.025m (US$15.5m) this year. According to the National Expenditure Program (NEP), funding for 2025 was to be PHP806.025m.
Gatchalian said: “The PNP needs funds to gather intelligence, particularly in the fight against offshore gaming operators. This is the time to support the PNP in gathering more intelligence.”
He added: “Given the President’s directive to terminate all offshore gaming operations in the country by the end of the year, law enforcement agencies such as the PNP need to double down on their efforts to flush out all offshore gaming operators, particularly those that are involved in illegal activities such as kidnap-for-ransom, human trafficking, and online scamming.”
See also: Philippine senator urges government agencies to work together to shut offshore gaming operators
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has said that he sees no need for new legislation to prohibit offshore gaming operators and internet gaming following Executive Order (EO) 74. Marcos said the executive order was “sufficient”. Referring to claims of potential loopholes in the order, he noted that casinos and integrated resorts run by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) are not allowed to offer offshore gaming and would not be able to do so after the ban.
“There is just no way because it’s the nature of the operation that we are banning,” he said. “It’s not because it’s under PAGCOR or not. So long as it’s an offshore gaming operator or has a similar licence, it’s banned.”
