PAGCOR: Gambling with too much power

• Main Authors: Macasaet, Luisa Margarita S., Superable, Annalyn S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Commercial Law
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/18016
• Institution: De La Salle University

A great number of casinos and other game of chance exit and are well known worldwide. Almost all casinos in the Philippines are being operated and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). PAGCOR is a government-owned and controlled corporation and was created by Presidential Decrees 1067 A, 1067 B, 1067 C, 1399 and 1632, consolidated by Presidential Decree 1869, amended by Republic Act 9487. The law states that PAGCOR has the authority to operate and authorize, license and regulate all games of chance, games of cards and game of numbers in the country with some exceptions. Likewise it is intended to improve, promote and expand out tourism industry. At present, PAGCOR has done wonders for the Philippine society because it has helped the government with funding government infrastructure projects and socio-civic projects. It has been a good income earner for the government. At present, PAGCOR earns an average income of over twenty billion (Php20 billion) a year for the government. However, recent events revealed that there are numerous report on PAGCOR official being involved in misappropriating the funds of PAGCOR and violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019). This law states that giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions is considered a corrupt practice of a public official. Thus, PAGCOR as a government owned and controlled corporation with the power to operate and regulate authorizing, licensing and regulating games of chances, games of cards and games of numbers in casinos under licensed with PAGCOR, has blemished its name due to some of its officers abusing their positions and misappropriated funds to rebound to their individual benefits. This thesis will start with the background and functions of PAGCOR including its objectives in order to give the readers an insight about PAGCOR. Thereafter, the dual power of PAGCOR to operate and regulate will be discussed. The progressive performance of PAGCOR will be shown and its vital role to fund government infrastructure projects and socio civic projects. Because of the two-fold power of PAGCOR, there is a link to the irregularities involving PAGCOR and its officers and employees to violations of Philippine laws and Jurisprudence and its possible violations to various International Laws. Towards the end, the data gathered will be studied to arrive at a recommendation that PAGCOR should concentrate on the operation of gambling casinos, gaming clubs and other similar recreation or amusement places and delegate the power to regulate to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB). The transfer of power of GAB shall allow PAGCOR to concentrate on its operations and surmount its progressive performance to the benefit of the government and the country. GAB shall be restructure to face the additional duty to regulate, supervise and monitor the gaming operations of PAGCOR and all gambling casinos, gaming clubs and other similar recreation or amusement places in Philippines except those gambling casinos in their respective economic zones authorized under existing laws. GAB shall ensure that PAGCOR and all entities under it shall function in accordance with Philippine laws and prevent any abuse of authority arbitrary rule, and violation of the different laws.