Amid increase in kidnapping cases of casino players, mostly by loan sharks

Pagcor sets measures to control casino financiers and strengthen security protocols

“Pagcor believes that while gaming contributes significantly to government revenues, it must not be used as a vehicle for abuse and injustices,” stated the agency, led by Andrea Domingo (Photo: ABS-CBN).
2019-09-02
Reading time 1:36 min
The Philippine regulator now plans to accredit and regulate casino financiers. It organized a meeting with licensed casino operators in the Entertainment City and Clark, representatives of the Philippine National Police, Anti-Kidnapping Group and the Bureau of Immigration. It seeks to install facial recognition cameras, information sharing among casino operators on suspected criminals, augment security personnel, among others.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) wants to expand its power by covering the casino financiers operating in the country to better protect the gamblers against loan sharks.

In a statement, the government’s gaming regulator said last Wednesday that the agency now plans to accredit and regulate casino financiers to address the recent reports about an increase in kidnapping cases of casino players perpetuated mostly by loan sharks. The bulk of recent reports about kidnapping cases perpetrated by loan sharks involve Chinese casino players as the victims.

The proposal, however, is subject to the implementing rules and regulations on lending companies by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory agencies, Pagcor said. “Pagcor believes that while gaming contributes significantly to government revenues, it must not be used as a vehicle for abuse and injustices.”

Meanwhile, Pagcor said it is condemning the “dreadful acts” perpetrated mostly by loan sharks in the casinos, while reassuring “we will ensure that the local gaming industry will maintain the integrity of its operations.”

According to Pagcor, it already organized a meeting with licensed casino operators in the Entertainment City and Clark as well with the representatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to address these casino-related kidnappings. “Pagcor and the major players in the local gaming industry denounce these criminal acts and we will not sit idly in the face of these injustices,” it said.

To safeguard the integrity of gaming and entertainment business in the country, Pagcor said the agency along with its casino licensees, will strengthen the security protocols by enhancing casino surveillance facilities.

Among the securing measures they want to install are facial recognition cameras; information sharing among casino operators on suspected criminals; augment security personnel; and constantly coordinate with concerned government authorities, such as the PNP, BI, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the casino host cities.

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