Gambling is very popular in the Philippines. Not only is most forms of gambling legal, the Philippine government has a big hand in it all, by way of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, which is a very big contributor of revenue to the Philippine government. (1)

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The company has extensive gambling holdings including casinos, VIP slots clubs, and bingo halls, and employs over 11,000 people, to give you an idea of how big this state run gambling company is.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation isn’t a monopoly though, and other companies are able to offer land-based gambling in this country as well, it’s just that they are the biggest. There are 4 other companies that also offer land-based gambling here. (2)

Online Poker in the Philippines. There are no Philippine online poker sites, or online gambling sites either, as the government has not moved at all towards putting such a scheme in place, although this could change at some point in the near future, as a bill has recently been proposed here which may change that. Download our free online poker software, open an account, make your first deposit, get your poker bonus and then enjoy the action. Play poker, casino and sports – all with one account As well as one of the best tournament schedules and cash game selections around, signing up for partypoker also gives you access to an amazing casino and sports. Real Money Mobile Slots. An exciting and rewarding feature about these eCOGRA-endorsed real money mobile casinos that accept players from the Philippines are the generous casino bonuses on offer. At the majority of these casinos, the first bonus you’re likely to receive is a welcome bonus!

So with the government playing such a big role in gambling, and making a lot of money off it, together with the market being open to other competitors, this is a great situation to be in if you live in the Philippines and like to gamble, and gambling does abound here.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation does serve as the regulatory body for gambling in the Philippines though, which is an unusual situation, having the biggest company in an industry regulate their smaller competitors, but the goal here is to promote gambling and the arrangement has worked quite well here.

There are a total of 57 casinos located throughout the Philippines, which is a huge amount compared to most countries. This does not even include all of the other gambling establishments that are located here. (3)

Live Poker in the Philippines

As far as playing live poker goes, there are plenty of live poker rooms in the country, a total of 22 in fact, with a total count of 105 poker tables. Some of these are located in casinos but many of them are dedicated poker rooms, showing that poker isn’t just a tag along to the casino games, barely worthy of mention, as is the case in a lot of places.

Live poker is popular enough here that PokerStars launched its second live poker room here in Manila, to go along with the one that they had previously opened up in Macau. It’s not a huge operation by any means, but does have 12 poker tables, and has done well since its launch, looking to further the interest of Filipinos toward the game of poker, something that has already grown to be pretty substantial. (4)

So while poker has been rather slow to catch on in a lot of Asian countries, it’s been rather quick to grow in a few others, and the Philippines is one of those countries that has really embraced the game.

The live poker tournament scene here is also quite vibrant, and they not only have a stop on the Asian Pacific Poker Tour and the Asian Poker Tour, they also have their own domestic tour, the Philippine Poker Tour. This lineup of tournaments and the publicity they generate also helps to further the game of poker in the country. (5)

Online Poker in the Philippines

There are no Philippine online poker sites, or online gambling sites either, as the government has not moved at all towards putting such a scheme in place, although this could change at some point in the near future, as a bill has recently been proposed here which may change that. (6)

There has been particular concern expressed over minors being able to freely gamble online, but these concerns are for the most part overblown, as the industry already does a good job of keeping minors away, so this more than anything may indicate that they haven’t looked into online gambling very deeply.

On the other hand, this may serve as an excuse to want to regulate, and governments often pay lip service to such things as this and controlling problem gambling to prop up their political platform when they are most interested in the bottom line, increasing tax revenues, as they don’t earn anything on foreign operated sites.

So there’s talk of severe fines for those operating outside the legislative framework if passed, for instance for allowing minors to play on their sites, but this again is just fist thumping as this would only apply to licensed operators and it can be assumed that they will comply with age restrictions, as even the foreign operators do that, although they aren’t subject to the laws of the Philippines in any case.

As for players, the reality is that there are many countries that wish to restrict access to foreign gambling websites, it’s just not something that is able to be done with much effectiveness.

So to get this to work here, this is a carrot and stick thing, but the stick is pretty small, so the carrot has to be quite large. It’s way to early to tell what this scheme would end up looking like, especially as far as how it would regulate online poker, but it’s far enough off that Filipino online poker players need not really be too concerned at this point.

Online Poker Options?

Currently, and curiously enough, it is illegal for a Philippine company to offer online gambling to Filipinos, but it is legal for Filipinos to play at foreign-based online gambling sites and online poker sites. The only “foreign-based sites” I would currently recommend are:

• PPI Poker – This is a newcomer to the Good Game Network, however, it has shown great promise and has amazing software and 35% INSTANT rakeback for all players who sign up to play for real money.

It’s hard to say what happens here if we finally see regulation, as this may only permit domestic companies from competing against the foreign ones, which may not end up working that well as far as poker is concerned.

Poker is unique in that it requires quite a large-sized player base to make it work, although the Philippines do have the population base and poker is popular enough here to not really make that an issue.

However, the kicker is that whatever they come up with, it has to be competitive with the foreign based websites such as PokerStars, and that part isn’t going to happen with any domestic poker site.

So to make this work properly, they have to bring PokerStars on board, either as a stand alone site limited to Filipino players, or even better, to allow these players to play on the main site.

As time goes on, we’ll learn more about how this will all cash out here. The Cagayan Freeport, a region of the Philippines that makes their own gambling laws, is eager to license gambling companies, although they would not be able to offer play to Philippines residents, and this is something that’s in the early stages of development, but so far there’s nothing happening that would apply to Filipinos. (7)

So it’s game on here still for poker players and thanks to a recent ruling by the courts in the Philippines it’s perfectly legal for players to play wherever they want.

References:

1. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation

2. Gambling Companies of the Philippines

3. Philippines Casinos

4. Introducing Poker Stars LIVE Manila at the City of Dreams

5. Playing Poker in the Philippines

6. Philippines Discuss Internet Gambling Regulations

7. Online Gambling in the Philippines

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Online poker is incredibly popular worldwide. The game attracts casual fans, industry insiders, avid players and more throughout the year thanks to major international land-based and online tournaments/gameplay.

Filipino residents have access to legal online poker in the Philippines through sanctioned offshore gambling sites. These offshore poker sites feature multiple game types in both single-game and tournament formats. The country has been known to host tournaments via PokerStars and other well-known poker enterprises.

Poker bonuses reward players for their online activity and players can experience a high-quality streamlined poker environment. If you have ever been interested in legal online poker options in the Philippines, look no further than licensed offshore poker brands. Our team of online gambling professionals developed this page specifically for residents looking for legitimate online poker action. We have created similar guides for legal Philippines online sportsbooks and Phillipines online casinos.

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Is Online Poker Legal For Players in the Philippines?

Yes, but only through licensed offshore gambling providers. Philippine gambling laws restrict locally based gambling operators from offering their services to residents, leaving licensed offshore poker destinations as the only legal option. Our research has not found any cases of Philippine players being arrested or prosecuted for playing poker online via offshore sites.

Which Poker Games Are Available Online?

Players have access to multiple game types, including Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, Studs Poker, HORSE, Caribbean Stud and others. The game menu will vary from site to site. You can find tournament play in most game forms. Free play mode is applicable for some games and allows players to familiarize themselves with games before wagering any real money.

It also provides them the opportunity to test out new game strategies. Online there are many options, to learn more about legal gambling options in Manila City or Metro Manila check out our gambling by region section.

Is Land-Based Poker Legal In The Philippines?

Yes. There are several major land-based casinos that offer poker games in the Philippines. Some of these are regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and others are handled by outside enterprises. In fact, PAGCOR is trying to sell off some of their casino assets, but that is another discussion. The following are some of the more well-known casinos:

• City of Dreams Manila
• PAGCOR Angeles
• Resorts World Manila
• Midas Hotel and Casino
• Okada Manila

Philippines Poker Tournaments

For world travelers in the islands, Macau poker tournaments or poker tournaments in Las Vegas might be an option. However, for the majority of PH residents, that’s not going to be the case. Even getting to poker tournaments in Manila at a PAGCOR-licensed venue (like the Okada Manila poker room) can often be too much of an inconvenience to offer real sustained play. But online poker tournaments – that’s a different story!

You can play for real money online in a variety of ways. But cash tables and Sit ‘N’ Go events are the minor leagues. Tournament poker is what it’s all about, and in the islands, the biggest tourneys are online at the offshore poker rooms mentioned here. With hundreds – if not thousands – of players buying in to new tournaments every day, you can play your hand and win each table on your way to major six-figure payouts!

Philippines Mobile Poker

All of the best online poker rooms at the top offshore Philippines gambling sites offer full mobile compatibility. In fact, mobile poker is the most popular way to play, as nearly everyone in the nation has a smartphone or tablet that can access these legal Internet poker rooms and every game and tournament type they offer.

That said, you won’t find iPhone poker apps in the App Store or Android poker apps in the Google Play store, because those companies’ policies don’t allow offshore gambling products in the Philippines market.

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Fortunately, the web app experiences that our recommended poker sites give you are all totally streamlined, allow quick tap-and-swipe play, and require no downloads or updates. Plus, with state-of-the-art Internet encryption standards, there’s also no safer way to play online poker than through these reputable sites’ mobile interfaces.

In-Person Poker Rooms vs. Online Poker In The Philippines

The Philippines has a bustling gambling market, both through commercial means and via the underground. In both cases, you’ll get a real poker experience playing face-to-face against other gamblers.

However, both of these options have issues. For commercial PAGCOR poker, you need to be near Metro Manila and be able to make the trip to a brick-and-mortar casino anytime you want to play a few hands. And private house games or black-market poker in the Philippines just aren’t worth the legal and physical dangers involved.

If you play online, however, you won’t run into legal or interpersonal problems of any sort. Yes, the online game does sacrifice a few interesting aspects of poker, namely the fabled “poker face.” Because you can’t look your opponents in the eye when playing over the Internet at a digital poker table, the bluffing element is removed. But this is a good thing for new players and novice real-money players. Additionally, online play removes bit of the luster of the real game, inasmuch as you can’t actually rake in the poker chips when you win a big pot while grinning at every loser scratching the felts.

But the benefits far outweigh these small issues. You can play online poker in the Philippines at any time, no matter where you are, which is convenience unmatched by any other method. And frankly, the payouts are better online, too. Finally, online play lets you easily consult charts showing you the basic poker rules, the best poker hands, poker card rankings, and more, giving you a real edge.

What Is Zynga Poker?

Zynga is a social app developer that makes games for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Facebook. While Zynga Poker is the most popular free-to-play poker app in the Philippines, you cannot win real money by playing. Ironically, however, it costs real money to play!

You can win free coins in Zynga Poker, but these are only good for playing more poker. There are no payouts and no monetary prizes of any kind. And worst of all, there are Zynga Poker cheat hacks that many players use, none of which is possible at real-money offshore Philippines poker sites.

As a way to learn the game, Zynga’s “poker room” might be fun, but it’s more expensive than simply signing up at an offshore poker room, making a small deposit, and playing minimum ante, small-pot events. Why waste money on winning Zynga Poker free chips when you can spend the same amount (or less!) and win real money online?

FAQs About Philippines Online Poker

Why Offshore Poker?

Poker through offshore gambling sites has several benefits, one of which being the convenience of online access. For residents without any brick-and-mortar casinos nearby, it can be difficult to find legitimate poker action. Offshore gambling sites provide poker gameplay to all Filipinos with Internet access.

There also tends to be more variance with game types and the number of games available. Some online poker brands allow users to play multiple hands at once, increasing their rate of play and potential winnings. Perhaps the best advantage to offshore players is bonus incentives.

Poker bonuses are rewards in the form of free money given to active players (more on this in a later section). The key takeaway is that our recommended offshore poker sites create a better gambling experience than sitting at a physical table game.

How Does Online Poker Work Through Offshore Sites?

Most reputable offshore poker sites feature games through a downloadable software. In some cases, there are options to play online via a Flash player, but it is not uncommon for players to download a supplementary software.

Offshore poker suites are designed by leading online gambling software providers and feature beautiful renderings of digital tables and streamlined gameplay. Players can easily toggle between game types and free play/real money gambling via the navbar.

You can even adjust your filter settings to only search for games based on table size, pot limit, game type, etc. The online poker suites provide accommodations for all types of players. There are Sit ‘N’ Go games and more involved tournaments available.

How Do Poker Bonuses Work?

Online poker bonuses are different than ones found in offshore sportsbooks or casinos, mainly because they are offered incrementally as opposed to all at once. There are often VIP tier levels in place that award comp points per hand.

Comp points are a sort of loyalty system that helps track player activity and rewards players based on which level they are at. The one important factor to pay attention to regarding poker bonuses is their playthrough requirement—or how much a player is required to accrue in bets before being eligible for a withdrawal.

Information on playthrough requirements, as well as all other components of a specific bonus, can be found within the respective bonus’ terms and conditions.

What Deposit Options Are Available On Offshore Poker Sites?

Offshore poker sites typically host a variety of Philippines friendly deposit methods to accommodate their international audience. Our suggested brands feature the following:

• Credit/debit cards
• Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Dash, Litecoin, Ethereum)
• Wire transfers
• Cashier’s cheques
• e-Wallets
• Prepaid options

Each method comes with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on how you look at it. You can gamble using PHP through any of these methods. More information can be found on our deposits page. Processing times vary per method (cryptocurrencies are the fastest) and additional fees may incur.

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Offshore poker sites recommend the use of cryptocurrencies to avoid long processing times and fees applied to your deposits/withdrawals. Consider e-Wallets (like Skrill or Neteller), cryptocurrencies or prepaid options if you are looking for more anonymous methods.

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Do You Pay Taxes On Poker Winnings In The Philippines?

This is up to you, but by Philippine law, you are required to report your gambling earnings when you disclose your income every tax season. Offshore poker rooms and gambling sites are not tax shelters!

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Though these sites will not report your winnings to local Philippine tax authorities, you should always pay your taxes in full and on time. After all, what’s the point of winning that big poker jackpot if the government’s just going to take it all away because they didn’t get their cut?