Pagcor: Philweb can’t operate yet
Even after overcoming a major hurdle as an accredited gaming technology provider, Philweb Corp. has yet to wait for the go-signal of state-owned gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) before it could resume operations.
Last Oct. 30, Philweb received a certificate of accreditation from Pagcor as an electronic gaming system (EGS) provider to licensed electronic gaming sites.
But Pagcor clarified in a press statement that such accreditation alone does not grant Philweb the permission to resume its operations until a third party audit service has been procured.
This service, or the so-called electronic management gaming system (EMGS) provider, will oversee the compliance of all gaming service providers. However, Pagcor is still in the process of procuring this EMGS.
“More importantly, the EMGS will ensure the veracity of information provided by licensees and operators with regard to player registrations, player account controls, player funds, reporting, audit, among others,” Pagcor said.
Once the EMGS would be in place, Pagcor said “all its electronic gaming licensees and operators are not only properly regulated but [will] also accurately remit what is due to the government.”
Thus, Pagcor said Philweb and all other accredited electronic games providers would have to wait for a notice to proceed before they can commence operations.
Philweb serves a network of internet cafes exclusively dedicated to casino games such as baccarat, blackjack, various slot machine games, video poker and others, most of which operate on a 24/7 basis.
Apart from acquiring new gaming sites, Philweb had invested P100 million in new servers, in compliance with its accreditation requirements.
With Pagcor’s accreditation process, Philweb’s contracts henceforth would be directly with the gaming operators and not with the gaming regulator itself.
There are other crucial services that operators require beyond software and Philweb sees itself in a good position to regain such businesses after having been out of the picture for a while.
