PAGCOR: PhilWeb must wait for 3rd party audit before resuming operations

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) on Thursday said that PhilWeb Corp. may not resume operations despite having been accredited as an electronic gaming system service (EGSS) provider.

"PAGCOR wishes to clarify that such accreditation alone does not grant Philweb the permission to resume its operations until PAGCOR has procured the third party audit service provider for electronic games," the regulator said in a statement.

On Monday, PhilWeb announced it has secured a certificate of accreditation as an EGSS provider for PAGCOR-licensed electronic gaming sites.

An accredited EGSS may offer software and other services to operators of PAGCOR-licensed gaming sites for electronic games.

PhilWeb's accreditation was signed by PAGCOR chair and CEO Andrea Domingo on October 30, 2017.

However, "Philweb, as well as other accredited electronic games providers, have to wait for PAGCOR’s notice to proceed before they can commence operations," according to the regulator.

The third party audit service or Electronic Management Gaming System (EMGS) provider—which is still under procurement—will oversee the compliance of all gaming service providers, it said.

"More importantly, the EGMS 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.

"With the EGMS in place, PAGCOR can be assured that all its electronic gaming licensees and operators are not only properly regulated but also accurately remit what is due to the government," it added.

In August last year, PAGCOR decided not to renew a licensing deal with PhilWeb after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to stop the proliferation of online gambling in the country.

Duterte also tagged former PhilWeb chairman Roberto Ongpin as among the oligarchs that must be weeded out of the government.

Ongpin then sold all his shares to current PhilWeb chairman Gregorio Ma. Araneta III for P2.006 billion in October 2016.

PhilWeb sent in February this year a proposal to renegotiate its service contract and operate the e-Games network of PAGCOR. — Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News