PAGCOR lays down requirements for support centres

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has published new regulations governing the conduct and operation of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) enterprises, which is bureaucratese for support organisations like customer service centres working for online gambling companies.

The regulations place strict emphasis on a requirement that BPOs do not in any way offer gambling per se, but allow for “special” permit BPOs commissioned by offshore gambling operators to operate in the Philippines, subject to strict conditions which include:

* They must in no way handle actual gambling transactions, although they may carry out product marketing;
* Must comply with the requirements of regular POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) Service Providers and service only “duly licensed gaming operators located abroad”;
* Offshore operators must have their local gaming licenses authenticated by the BPO;
* Pagcor must be given sight of service agreements between the offshore operator and the BPO;
* BPOs must hold a valid Philippines business licence and employ workforces comprising at least 90 percent local citizens;
* Local municipal authorities must be consulted for permits, and will issue a letter of no objection to the BPO for each local government region in which operations are located.

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