New gaming jurisdiction opens in Philippines

A new gaming jurisdiction is looking to attract online gaming operators—and possibly, land-based casinos—to the northern part of the Philippines.

The gaming jurisdiction is located within the 12,500-hectare Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) in the town of Casiguran in Aurora. The zone is about 270 kilometers away from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), where master licensor First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation is allowed to issue both online and land-based licenses.

Pacific Seaboard Leisure and Entertainment Corporation is the exclusive master licensor for the new body for the next 25 years, according to a GGRAsia report.

The gaming jurisdiction plans to focus first on issuing online gambling licenses—using a license fee structure similar to CEZA—to bring operators to the Aurora, which is considered to be an underdeveloped part of Luzon, before turning its attention to brick-and-mortar casinos.