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New rules for Philippine BPOs


Philippine casino regulator PAGCOR has announced a new Special Class of BPOs affected by the POGO rules and executive order No. 13.

“The Special Class of BPOs are those servicing legitimately licensed gaming operators abroad and do not in any way handle betting,” noted an announcement from PAGCOR. The BPO must only handle product marketing and customer relations, and can not be servicing any of PAGCOR’s POGO licensees.

According to PAGCOR, the accreditation of the special class of BPOs will be allowed as long as they meet a number of criteria including:


  • The applicant provides services to only duly licensed gaming operators abroad



  • The applicant is duly licensed to do business in the Philippines



  • The applicant has 90 percent Filipino workforce



  • The applicant handles only product marketing and customer relations without handling any of the betting activities of the gaming operator.


The special BPO will also be required to pay an accreditation fee of US$100,000 per year.

The latest announcement follows the PEZA’s decision last week to no longer allow online gaming firms to operate in any of its accredited sites across the country.

Director General Charito Plaza said the agency was recently asked by the Office of the President (OP) to allow BPOs (business process outsourcing companies) who are into online gaming, but came to the decision after its board of directors met with the BPO association.

Plaza said she would ask owners of all PEZA-accredited buildings not to allow online gaming firms to operate in their premises, especially those “disguising as BPO.”

“Since PEZA board will not allow online gaming, they (building owners) should stop allowing the lessee to occupy the accredited buildings,” said Plaza.

“We do not want to ruin the image of the legitimate BPOs locating in our sites,” she added.

 

The ban also applies to any firm engaging in technical support for online gaming firms, said Plaza.

Asia Gaming Brief is a news and intelligence service providing up to date market information for worldwide executives on relevant gaming issues in Asia.

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