The gambling regulator in the Philippines is quoted as saying it would be a “dereliction of its duties” not to mount a legal challenge to Quezon City’s attempt to impose a local regulatory ordinance on a casino resort scheme proposed there by Bloomberry Resorts Corp.
This might involve, said the regulator, seeking a temporary restraining order known locally as a TRO against the local government via the country’s courts.
According to Quezon City vice-mayor Joy Belmonte, one condition under the ordinance passed by city authorities a week ago is that local residents would need to pay an entry levy to use the casino.
According to Pagcor, at stake is whether local governments should have any say over the regulation of casinos on their patch. Pagcor is adamant they should not.
The regulator described itself as the national government agency “that has been mandated to regulate all games of chance in the country” as set out in Presidential Decree 1869 and Republic Act (RA) 9487. Pagcor said local governments in the Philippines had no legal power to regulate gambling.
“Given the provisions of the local law, it is clear that Quezon City’s proposed gaming regulatory ordinance is a violation of national law,” the Pagcor statement said
