It is used at a lot of the top American online casinos and it is a safe payment option in 2020. Both top-rated online casinos and the MasterCard facilities have top-notch security for US gamblers. Online Casinos that Accept MasterCard #. Online gambling (or Internet gambling) is any kind of gambling conducted on the internet.This includes virtual poker, casinos and sports betting.The first online gambling venue opened to the general public, was ticketing for the Liechtenstein International Lottery in October 1994.

• Online Casinos That Take Mastercard Cards
• Online Casinos That Accept Mastercard Gift Cards

MasterCard is a name known to anyone who has ever heard of a credit card. MasterCard is one of the biggest providers of credit cards in the world. Founded in 1966, the brand was called MasterCharge at the time. The name its founders have chosen bears some significance as the word ‘master’ carries an implication of dominance and superiority while “charge” implies purchasing a product or a service on credit. Very suitable indeed considering Mastercard went on to become the most widespread credit card brand in the world.

The company ditched its original brand name for Mastercard in 1979. Forty years after it was founded, Mastercard was listed on the New Your Stock Exchange as a publicly traded company. Today, Mastercard continues to make it its business to mediate safe payments between the banks of sellers and the banks of consumers. Figures published by the research portal Statista reveal that there were over 800 million credit cards by the brand in worldwide circulation as of 2017’s fourth quarter alone.

Mastercard is listed as an available payment method on millions of websites and has also become the preferred method of banking for many casino players, with hundreds of virtual casinos displaying the card’s logo in their cashier sections. Many prefer Mastercard to fund their casino play due to the method’s speediness, security, and wide availability. If you are a gambler looking to use Mastercard for the purposes of online casino play, we suggest you stick with as to learn everything you need to know about this popular casino payment method.

How the Method Works

Mastercard is one of the most widespread payment solutions accepted by online casinos, which is not surprising when we take into account it is available in more than 200 countries worldwide. This global payment network works with more than 22,000 banks, credit unions, and thrift institutions, responsible for the issuing and distribution of the brand’s cards.

The notion of a credit card is simple. The bank loans you money as credit, which you have to return after a set period of time, normally 30 days. The terms of agreement vary from client to client and from bank to bank, based on the client’s monthly earnings, spending habits, credit ratings etc.

The Mastercard CVV Number and Its Purpose

When you process a payment to your online casino balance via a Mastercard, the transaction undergoes several steps before its completion. In order to initiate the payment itself, the player needs to provide some of their banking information which includes the card’s date of expiry, the name of the rightful card owner, its number, and the CVV (abbreviated from Card Verification Value) at the back. Mastercard CVV numbers consist of three digits, printed below the magnetic stripe at the back of the card.

The main purpose of the CVV is to protect your credit card transactions against frauds. The online casino you are depositing to practically needs only your Mastercard number to process the transaction. Online casinos or merchants are allowed storage only of your 16-digit Mastercard number. Under the guidelines of the PCI-DSS (short for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), casino operators are prohibited from storing their players’ CVV numbers in their databases, which is why you are required to enter this code repeatedly upon subsequent deposits. The CVV must be provided along with the card’s expiry date and your name as a means of fraud prevention. In fact, this is the sole purpose of the CVV.

The idea is that upon any suspicious activity or security breach of the casino’s database (which is unlikely to happen, but still), the fraudsters may only gain access to players’ card numbers. While this sounds scary enough on its own, this information is rendered useless to the fraudsters without the CVV, which only the rightful Mastercard owner, i.e. you, knows.

The Steps in a Mastercard Casino Transaction

When a Mastercard payment is initiated by a casino player, the transaction undergoes several stages before the money ends up in said player’s casino balance. The first step is the deposit initiation itself, which is followed by the authentication of the transfer. An authentication request is sent to your bank via the Mastercard’s network, asking for information to verify the payment.

Your bank would then confirm the card number, the billing address and the CVV number as well as whether the balance is sufficient enough to carry out the deposit. If so, your bank would approve the deposit and would send authorization to the casino’s bank using the Mastercard network.

This leads us to the next step which is clearing the money from your balance. Your casino’s bank would send the authorized payment data to the Mastercard network where it needs to be validated. This is followed by the last step, the settlement between the two parties involved in the transaction, i.e. your issuing bank and the casino’s bank.

The deposit is forwarded by your issuing bank to the bank of the online gambling operator, which in turn would transfer the sum to your casino’s bank account. It sounds overly complex but one such transaction is usually completed within a few moments as Mastercard deposits are normally processed immediately.

How to acquire a MasterCard

Getting a credit card is a fairly straightforward, albeit slow, process. First you need to check in with your local bank and see what their policy regarding credit is and whether or not they are authorized to issue physical Mastercard products in the first place. If they operate within the MasterCard network they are able to issue these types of cards. Note that there are different types of credits cards like Standard, Gold, Titanium, and Platinum Mastercards so you best check which type is the most suitable for your gambling purposes.

Normally you will have to go through a screening process and submit personal information such as your monthly income, name, address, Social Security Number (or your country’s equivalent) and credit history. This information is filled into the application form the issuing bank or credit union will give you. If you do not feel like visiting the issuing bank in person, you can use its website and fill in the application form online. Make sure you input all your information correctly and be honest about your credit history, if you are applying for a credit card, in particular, since Mastercard is known to offer a range of prepaid and debit cards as well.

Should your request for a credit card get declined, make sure you request the issuer to send you a copy of the credit file so that you can gain a proper understanding as to the reasons. If the bank finds you an acceptable candidate, it will offer you a plan suited to your means and your new card will be shipped to you within the timeframe designated by the issuing institution. The timeframe is largely based on the policies of the particular issuer but would usually range from 10 days to 2 weeks.

Depositing to Online Casinos

Using a Mastercard to deposit in online casinos cannot get any simpler than it already is. When depositing, you must first navigate to the casino’s cashier page, select credit/debit cards from the list of options and then choose the Mastercard brand from the drop-down menu. You proceed by entering the 16-digit code on the front, the expiration date, the card holder’s name and the CVV code on the back. Of course, you would also need to specify the desired deposit amount.

Then you check whether you have entered all the details correctly, confirm the deposit, and this is it. There are no waiting timeframes since the payment is completed instantly. It is possible that when paying with Mastercard for online gambling, 2%-3% fees may be charged to your account, depending on the casino. Yet, most established casinos would defray the transaction expenses for Mastercard deposits. The limits on the deposit would generally depend on the gambling operator you play with.

Withdrawing from Online Casinos

It is worth noting that Mastercard has adopted its own policies in regard to online gambling. Players from jurisdictions where online gambling is illegal and unregulated may hit a snag when attempting to withdraw via Mastercard. If you are a resident of a country like the United States where gambling on games of chance on the web is largely prohibited, your Mastercard withdrawal may not go through. Banks in the country, including the issuers of Mastercard products, have been instructednot to process payments to such cards should the transaction come from a gambling website.

How do these gambling transactions get recognized as such, though? It all started with Mastercard attaching MCCs (Merchant Category Code) as a means of distinguishing different types of gambling activities along with the level of risk they entail. For instance, online gambling operators offering products that involve skills to win, eg. poker, have codes 7994 and 7999 attached to them. These are considered low and medium-risk activities by Mastercard.

Gambling operators offering games of chance fall under the category of high-risk gaming providers and as such have the code 7995 attached to their transactions. Free sign up bonus no deposit online casino. This causes the withdrawals from such websites to get blocked whenever the transfer was made to a country where online gambling is prohibited.

As of 2015, Mastercard has introduced several new codes of this type that make it possible to distinguish between licensed and unlicensed gambling providers in a given jurisdiction. Online lotteries run by the government have a code of 7800 whereas the code 7802 pertains to licensed horse and dog racing operations. Licensed online casinos have a code 7801 attached to them. Still, if you are a resident of the US who plans on gambling at an offshore licensed casino, we would recommend you not to risk it and go for another method of payment where you will not struggle with having your payments declined.

Offers from MasterCard

In the event that you do not wish to use a credit card there are other option that MasterCard provides. MasterCard debit cards are the most used after credit cards. They are directly linked to your bank account and do not let you spend more than you actually have. If you are worried about racking up extra charges or overdrafting this is the best option. In fact it is much simpler to acquire a debit card than a credit card. There is no screening process or creditworthiness required. Note that different debit products by the brand are available, for instance Standard, Platinum, and World Debit Mastercards. Each of these cards offers specific benefits so be smart with your choice.

The debit Mastercards work roughly in the same manner as the credit ones, but the key difference here is that you use the funds already available in your bank account instead of using credit when depositing at your online casino of choice. In other words, your deposit will go through only if you have the requested deposit amount available in your bank account. Again, you will be required to input the CVV, the card number, your name as the card owner and the expiry date when initiating the deposit.

Another alternative are prepaid cards. They allow the user to charge them up as much as they find satisfactory and play with that money and only that money. These cards are available in any bank or major point of sale, like supermarkets for example. To register them one needs to provide their address and proof of their identity. Some points of sale would even offer prepaid cards that can be presented to somebody else as a gift. You can activate the gift card in the point of sale directly or at a later stage by calling the number printed on the card’s packaging.

Prepaid Mastercard cards are also rechargeable in case you run out of funds. Your options for reloading the prepaid Mastercard would be to pay either in cash or use a check. It makes sense this is a better option for gamblers who wish to play responsibly and anonymously since the prepaid cards are not linked to a particular bank account. In fact, having one such account is not even a requirement to obtain a prepaid Mastercard.

The prepaid cards are also different from the debit ones where fees are concerned. Debit cards by Mastercard would have you pay a monthly service fee but how much depends on the issuing bank. Usually the service charges are negligible, though. Prepaid Mastercards typically have a monthly fee as well but its purpose is it to keep the card in operation. If you exhaust the entire amount so that the fee cannot be deducted, the card will get deactivated. The bottom line is you can use any of these types of Mastercards as long as your casino works with Mastercard as a whole.

Security

MasterCard is one of the biggest credit card networks in the world. As such they have a large client base that constantly uses their cards and those clients must be protected from fraud. MasterCard cards have chips inside them that drastically reduce the chance for credit card fraud, up to the point that it is nearly non-existent. Additionally banks protect their clients in case their card information falls into criminal hands. They compensate clients in the event that someone drains their card or uses it in unintended ways.

Then again, let us not forget about the Mastercard SecureCode, which adds another layer of safety to players’ Mastercard payments. In its essence, this is an additional 3D Secure code offered by some Mastercard issuers. When you apply for one such code, you will be issued a special PIN you need to enter each time you initiate a deposit to your favorite online casino.

When you enroll for your PIN (which you choose yourself), you must confirm your identity as a card owner by providing answers to several security questions. This code poses as an additional barrier that hinders fraudsters from tapping into your banking information and a large number of online casinos have already adopted it.

Advantages to using MasterCard

Making payments is easy, fast and accessible. Everyone knows how cards work nowadays and everyone has at least one. Online merchants and retailers have accustomed themselves to this and are prepared to accept any and all credit cards. You will hardly find a casino that will not take your Mastercard.
You may play with money that you do not currently have on hand when using a credit Mastercard. In truth, this is a double-edged sword, as it can be both amazing and devastating. It is appealing to play with virtually unlimited funds and it is very easy to lose track of the situation. But when planned for with care and restraint, players should experience no trouble and enjoy their time thoroughly.

One of the biggest advantages obviously has to do with security. It is very difficult for Mastercard payments to become subject to frauds thanks since the CVV numbers are not stored within the casinos’ databases, not to mention the transactions are encoded with encryptions that keep fraudsters away. If you throw the SecureCode into the mix, it would be even more difficult for you to become a subject of fraud.

Additionally, the method allows you to make more sizable deposits, especially in comparison to some other solutions like Paysafecard, for instance. This applies to debit Mastercards as well as long as you have the funds available into your bank account’s balance. Additionally, Mastercard owners are eligible for different discounts the more they use their cards for online purchases, or deposits in our case. Of course, these benefits are based on the issuing bank, the country it is based in, and the type of card you own.

Disadvantages to using MasterCard

One of the biggest issues Mastercard users are facing is having their credit card withdrawals declined. This is to be explained with Mastercard’s policies we talked about earlier where the payment network recognizes payments from unauthorized gambling websites to players from specific jurisdictions. Because of this, some casinos accepting these cards for deposits will not support them for withdrawals and would prompt you to look for another way to cash out. This can be quite the inconvenience for some players.

Using a credit card at some online casinos may subject you to extra charges for withdrawals so you need to consider this prior to choosing Mastercard as a payment method. As we mentioned, these fees are usually negligible but we still recommend you to contact your Mastercard issuer to receive additional information on how much you will have to pay in extra charges.

Seeing as how transactions are so simple may cause you to play more than you actually would and make you overstep your budget. This is a credit card after all, so there is the chance that you end up spending way more than you actually have and find yourself heavily in debt. You must always keep this in mind. Going over your credit limit will incur extra fees which will pile on over time. Of course, this issue is easily solved by applying for a debit Mastercard or using a prepaid one.

Conclusion

Mastercard services card holders all over the world. As you are reading this, you probably have one of these cards in your wallet. They have proven that they are a reliable and reputable company that takes all the necessary measures to successfully protect users from fraudulent actions.

When using Mastercard for gambling purposes, it is imperative for players to research the online casinos where they intend to play before submitting their card information. If you are still reluctant to reveal your card information, you can look up online payment providers that play the part of a middle-man when making transactions to a casino.

About a decade ago, the world took a turn it gambling when it went online. Most casinos started licensing online activities while developers began looking broadly into instant play and mobile gaming. The Philippines wasn’t left behind, and within the decade, it has established itself as one of the only online gaming hubs in Asia. Because of this, the Philippines online casino scene is almost exploding with several regulated players keeping the Archipelago’s people entertained.

Since the government didn’t see the need to lock gambling out of peoples’ reach, it formed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to regulate the industry and ensure all Filipino casino sites have adhered to set requirements. Formed in 2016, this body has been overseeing casino licensing and regulating incomes in partnership with the government. Now the Philippines is the only country in Asia with a licensing body for online gaming.

This article looks into the legality of gambling in the Philippines, what a new player needs to know about gambling online, and how to choose a good online casino Philippines. Even though there are native casinos in the country, there still are others from outside the country offering services to gamblers, and we use this article to tell you how to tell the legit ones from utter scams.

Top Filipino Online Casinos

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How We Rate Best Online Casinos Philippines

Not every list of online casinos in the Philippines is ideal for gamblers because some of these casinos are unregulated and unlicensed. We use seasoned players to verify the legitimacy of an online gambling house from registration to licensing and playing. Below are some of the basics we check before giving a Philippine online casino the nod.

Licensing and Fair Play

Top of the list is licensing because only establishments with the government’s full authority can safeguard a user’s money and information. We check that the said casino online Philippines is regulated by PAGCOR and other known authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Information on licensing is displayed at the homepage of a casino’s page, but we go a mile further to countercheck the license number with the said authorities since this information is available on request. Fair play ensures games are audited and presented in such a way that the luckiest wins. Unaudited games give online casinos Philippines an unfair advantage.

Variety of Banking Methods

Visa, MasterCard, and Amex are some of the banking methods accepted at most top online casinos Philippines. We look at more options, especially eWallets that are accepted in the country. PayPal, Neteller, and in some instances, Bitcoin have now become favorable options since they are cheaper than regular banks, and transactions are processed faster.

When looking at banking options, we consider transaction cost, the methods’ safety, the time it takes for payment to process payments, and whether it is popular in the Philippines. If it meets all these conditions, we give the casino a nod. We also prefer to give our uses a variety of banking methods.

Supported Mobile Devices

The best online casino Philippines right now works with developers who use the latest HTML technology for game development. Why? Because the demography of gamblers is changing, we now see younger and younger game table experts than we did ten years ago. The best Filipino casino site has slots in mobile versions to accommodate this change, while some have taken it further to live gaming. We look at compatibility with Android and iOS for mobile devices – that includes tablets and iPads.

Quality Customer Support

Online Casinos That Take Mastercard Cards

Users of a casino’s products will, at some point, need to contact customer care about its payment options, deposits and withdrawals, and several other issues. We test contact options to see how casino sites Philippines respond through email, phone numbers, live chats, and most of the time, their FAQ section. We first check to see whether they have a detailed FAQ section, and if not, we ask questions through the said means. We observe how long each method takes to respond on weekdays and weekends, and during varying hours of the day or night. We include this information on our reviews.

Rewards, Bonuses, and Promotions

Top casino sites Philippines incentivize their players with bonuses and regular promotions that go a long way in popularizing their products. We compare bonuses offers – deposit, no deposit – and advice accordingly. We also look in their terms and conditions to see playthrough requirements so we can fully understand their viability. As for promotions, we look at games listed to qualify and give you the full breakdown so you know what to expect.

Game Selection

The most popular game on most online casino sites Philippines is poker, closely followed by video poker and then slots as would be expected. These games come in different varieties though they are played the same way, and so we ensure that casinos on our reviews have the widest variety possible. Saying these three are the most popular doesn’t dim the light on table games, so gambling websites Philippines with every game found elsewhere in the world get favorable treatment from us.

Best Software Providers

Game developers play an important role when selecting a casino because they determine the kind of games it plays. The best casino sites Philippines endeavor to work with known developers whose games have been tested. We check whether the games are mobile-compatible and can be played on both instant-play mode and downloads. We also check a game’s features depending on its software since developers install those during inception. The software provider has to be licensed and games audited for fairness for their games to be any good to players at online casino site Philippines.

Security

Any site identifying itself as the best casino site Philippines has to first place this factor before offering its services. The information that users share with it should be protected with the latest SSL encryption technology so it is not used for any other reason that the intended. If possible, the casino should display on its homepage an eCOGRA certificate to show that user information is safe. The best Filipino casino sites have adopted Random Number Generators that produce fair results after an online spin, but these numbers should be tested and checked regularly for fairness.

Online Gambling Legal Situation in Philippines

There are two regions as far as gambling in the Philippines goes. First on this list is the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) that regulates and licenses land-based gambling joints in the country. Players are welcome to visit any of the numerous joints operated under the eye of this body, where they can bet offline and even online for selected games.

The other side of online casino in the Philippines is controlled by Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport that residents refer to as Cagayan Freeport that is indirectly under the control of PAGCOR. There is one catch when playing in this zone; it is only authorized to offer gambling services to tourists. In the larger scheme of things, online gambling in the Philippines leaves several loopholes for online casinos in the Philippines to operate within the law.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)

Online Casinos That Accept Mastercard Gift Cards

PAGCOR, established in 1977, is the state-owned body that regulates land-based gambling in the Philippines. All betting outlets have to be licensed by this body to operate in the country. It also manages thirteen land-based casinos, eight VIP slots machines clubs, and three arcade fruit machines. This body is the most flexible in all of Asia. PAGCOR licenses both local gaming companies and offshore casino entities, hoping to set base in the country. The body disallows Jueteng, Masiao, and formed as a combination of these two from being played in the country.

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)

In 2016, PAGCOR started licensing online casino in the Philippines whose products are developed overseas. This allows residents to place wagers in these casinos as long as they are regulated in their countries of origin. The law regulating local gambling states that residents can only enjoy online gambling if the services are provided by a casino licensed by a legitimate offshore jurisdiction, but not PAGCOR or Cagayan Freeport. Tourists are free to indulge in games developed by a Filipino online gambling site regulated by both PAGCOR and Cagayan Freeport or either. In short, online gambling Philippines is ultimately legal due to these loopholes.

Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (Cagayan Freeport)

Cagayan Freeport is under the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), yet another government-controlled body. It licenses land-based casinos not under government control to offer their services to tourists in the country. These casinos can also apply for licensing for online services to the same category of users. They are, thus, disallowed to offer services to residents of the country. This body was first established in 1995 and is the sole entity of its kind in Asia that issues legit online casino Philippines licenses for online gaming, sports betting, and lottery. The recent formation of POGO changed this status a little.

Online Gambling in the Philippines

The question “is an online casino Philippines legal?” arises regularly. It has been established clearly that it is not against the law to gamble in the country, given the loopholes in the legislation. Since the establishment of PAGCOR, Filipino online casinos became clearly defined. The government controls all the land-based gambling action through this body, and in so doing ensures the safety of this practice. All betting outlets in the country are also under this body’s watchful eye and control.

Annually, the country makes o average 1.38 billion pesos from gambling, and that was before the introduction of online gambling through the other two bodies; Cagayan Freeport and POGOs. This income is expected to rise significantly since the country’s youth have a hunger for these games. Cagayan Freeport licenses land-based and online casinos in the country that offer their services to tourists. POGOs are offshore online casinos licensed in their respective jurisdictions allowed to offer online gaming services to Filipino residents.

As for software provision, PhilWeb partners with PAGCOR to provide this solution for casinos within the Philippines and others in Asia. All popular online games are allowed in the country except these three; Jueteng and Masiao, and Last Two, a combination of the other two. Slots are the most popular in the country, with over 250 slot machines placed strategically for players.

The three bodies mandated with casino regulation in the country are strict on operations. For starters, the best casinos in the Philippines must have enough capital to pay all obligations to players should anything happen, and they are also mandated to pay winnings promptly. This method of ensuring prompt casino payment Philippines makes gambling in the country safe, scam-free, and better-organized than in most places in the world.

Gambling Taxation

PAGCOR collects handsomely on behalf of the government, making gabbling quite lucrative in the country and explaining why the authorities are keen on organized betting. Betting incomes of PhP 10,000 and below are charged 20% in taxation to the government while other similar or smaller amounts, 5-32% as per income tax brackets depending on the nature of tax payer. This payment is in the form of Withholding tax, and it is final. The amounts charged income tax are those won by individual punters with the legit online casino in Philippines acting as withholding agents on behalf of the government.

Payment Methods for Filipino Players

Top online casinos Philippines provide a wide range of options for deposits and withdrawals for users interested in playing for real money. The most common options for payments are; conventional bank transfers and cards such as MasterCard, eWallets – PayPal, Sofort, Skrill, Neteller, and ecoPayz.

Here’s a breakdown into the mist common payment options:

• Credit cards and debit cards
• e-Wallets
• Prepaid cards
• Wire transfer
• Cryptocurrencies
• Money orders

Credit/Debit Cards

The most commonly used cards are Visa, MasterCard (Maestro), and American Express due to their convenience and general acceptability. Withdrawal and deposit limits will differ from one casino to the next, and there is usually a small fee attached to these transactions.

e-Wallets

If you are keen on the recent peer-to-peer digital wallet service from mobile/PC to your casino account, e-Wallets are the way to go. They are convenient since you can transact from a mobile device instantly, safe, and cheap since transfer costs are a small percentage of the total amount of a transaction. Some of the commonly used e-Wallets in the Philippines are Skrill, PayPal, Neteller, and Sofort. Prepaid cards are also just as convenient.

Cryptocurrencies

Digital currencies are gaining momentum in the world, and online gambling sites Philippines have caught up. Bitcoin remains the most popular and easily accepted thanks to its ease of transfer, security, and zero transfer charges.

Astra fruit machines for sale. Other options casinos adopt are; wire transfers and prepaid cards. Money orders have slowly lost their luster after more tech-advanced methods cropped up, but some casinos still accept them.

Online Casino Sites Accepting Philipinnes Pesos (PHP)

Even though the Philippines is an important market, not all online sites offer payment options in pesos. They are developed without the multi-currency option that goes beyond common currencies, namely; USD, EUR, and BP. For these sites, layers have to incur the cost associated with currency conversion. The few sites that have pesos as one of their currencies make it so much easier for players. Here’s a visual of how the Peso is doing against major currencies.

Live Casino Games

Technology has taken international and PH online casino gambling from brick-and-mortar settings to live gaming in the comfort of your house. One of the things that made traditional table games enticing was interaction with fellow gamblers and dealers. Since online gambling eliminated the need for leaving the house to gamble at a casino, live gaming brought back the fun.

Using powerful computers and HD cameras, casinos can now bring action from studios to your house regardless of physical distance. You will log into your account, select a table, and get ready to play against your fellow gamblers. The Dealer acknowledges all players and sets the pace for the game. All players are asked to place their bets, and the dealer lets you know you can open chats amongst yourselves using a live chat option. The Dealer’s live dealings are translated into data through software – Optical Character Recognition (OCR) – that gives a brick-and-mortar casino feel.

Only table games get this kind of treatment since their players love that old-school gambling feeling. Background music will be just right, and there is the usual buzz you get from a casino since the action is live. Usually, winners at online gambling site Philippines are determined by the RNG technology, but for live gaming, it is done by human dealers. Naturally, only those who wager real money can play live games at casinos. Some of the games you can look forward to playing live include;

• Live Roulette
• Live Blackjack
• Live Casino Hold’em
• Live Baccarat
• Live Three Card Poker
• Live Caribbean Stud Poker
• Live Stars Texas Hold’em

Mobile Gaming in the Philippines

Last year, the Philippines had over 43 million gamers who contribute handsomely to the total collected tax. Though they range in age from 21 to 50, 74% of them do it from their mobile devices. It makes sense to choose this mode of gambling since most people are on their phones most of the time, and smaller gadgets are portable.

Developers working with Filipino casinos develop games in HTML5 to allow the compression of games without compromising quality. You get the same graphics, sound effects, and game quality from mobile as you would PCs since they are designed to fit these spaces ideally.

For mobile gaming, players can opt for downloadable games to play when offline or instant-play games require a good internet connection. These games are designed to fit any screen, whether an iPad/tablet or a regular smartphone. Not all games are available for mobile gaming, but most slots and table games are. These games are available on devices powered by Android and iOS.

Online Casino Games for Filipinos

There is no limit to the variety of games an online casino can line up for its players. Since slots and poker are two of the most popular games in The Philippines, casinos have them alongside Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow, Sic Bo, Red Tiger, and Live casino games.

Online Slots

Most Filipino players seem to prefer slots over other casino games. Firstly, they are easy to play even for newbie gamblers, and secondly, they are available in different exciting variations. Three reel and five reel titles are the most popular. They come in different themes such as Fruit machines, Ancient Egypt, Mythology slots, Horror themes, Oriental themes, Movie slots with celebrities, Music, Adventure, Alien, and Irish themes.

Slots are available on free (practice) mode as well as wagering for real money. Being a game of chance, players don’t need too much skill when playing these games that involve finding the right combination of symbols. Their returns are way lower than those of table games because the concentration and skill-level required is equally minimal.

Online Roulette

There are three main variations of roulette; French, European, and American. European roulette, the most popular of the three, has 37 pockets with one zero and a 2.70% house edge, which is the lowest. American roulette comes second with its 38 pockets and double zeros. It has a higher house edge at 5.26%. The third option that is the least favorite among players globally is French roulette with a single-zero wheel similar to that of European roulette, but with a much higher house advantage. Roulette is developed by most game developers – Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech – and it is one of the most played table games in the world.

Online Blackjack

Blackjack is the one game with the most online variations of all table games. These are some of the options online players at casino Philippines have.

• Atlantic City Blackjack
• Super Fun 21
• Single Deck Blackjack
• Multi-Hand Blackjack
• Spanish 21
• Double Exposure Blackjack
• Blackjack Switch
• Pontoon
• European Blackjack
• Perfect Pairs Blackjack

When playing this game, the plan is to come as close to – or hit – 21 without surpassing it. Players get two cards, with one face down, while the Dealer gets the same number of cards. Ace is the most valuable card in Blackjack. These variations above have different house edges. Blackjack is a game of skill as much as there is a level of chance involved.

Online Baccarat

The goal in this game is to hit a perfect nine, and players do that by drawing the first two cards with values that bring them close to this number. The third card will either take you further from nine – a burst – or closer, in which case you win.

There are four main baccarat variations; Mini baccarat, Punto bunco, Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat Banque. Mini baccarat, mainly played in America, accommodates seven players instead of eight since it is indeed a mini version. Punto bunco is more Italian than any other, while Chemin de Fer is mostly played in Argentina. In Baccarat Banque, only one player gets to play Dealer the entire game, unlike other variations.

Top PH Online Casino Games 2021

Bonus Types

It is not just casino sites in the Philippines that entice players with bonuses to keep them coming back and playing more regularly. Bonuses and promotions are given in different forms to new and existing players. There are welcome packages that target new players, while free spins are for both new and continuing players.

Here is more on bonuses and promotions.

Welcome Bonus

As the name suggests, this bonus is reserved for players registering an account with a casino for the first time. When you sign up, you are assigned a bonus code that then ushers you into the world of freebies. Most casinos dictate the type of games you can use for this bonus, and there is also a time limit. It is mostly tied to a deposit, making the bonus a percentage of the first or a number of subsequent deposits. Further, there are requirements to be met before this bonus, and associated winnings are withdrawn, and all this information is available in the casino’s terms and conditions.

No Deposit Bonus

This deposit is quite rare since, as the name suggests, players do not have to make any deposits to get it. All you do is register an account and use the bonus code, where applicable, shared. You will then receive a credit in your account that you can only use on predetermined games.

These bonuses have stricter playthrough requirements than deposit bonuses as most casinos will demand you play 20 to 50 times of the bonus before finally withdrawing it. Casinos put time limits to these bonuses so you know you only have a set number of days to exhaust them.

Free Spins

Slots require players to spin to play, and so free spins qualify as one of a casino’s well-loved bonuses. They are usually restricted to slots, and most times, time-barred. There are wagering requirements for punters to meet before they can withdraw winnings from these spins. This form of bonus is for both new and regular players and is the go-to reward when a casino is testing new slot games. They are mostly tied to game developers as they are part of a game. Most casinos and game developers are quite generous with free spins.

VIP Programs

When you register an account at a Filipino casino site, your name is entered into a loyalty program, but you have to become a frequent spender to qualify for unique treatment. High-rollers (players that spend a lot of money) are rewarded with tickets to grand Prix, safaris, and raffles for luxurious presents that lower spenders are not privy to. They also get to try new games first and are given bonuses unique to only them. Sometimes, casinos give these players a cashback option for between 25 and 30% of their bets.

Online Casinos vs. Offline Casinos – 2020

Before online casinos became a hit, all everyone knew was land-based gambling. Old-school gamblers had their doubts about this new concept of gambling – and they probably still do – but time has shown this may the only form that will be left standing in a few years.

Online and land-based casinos have their unique features as well as differences that make each stand out.

We compare them using the following parameters:

• Payout
• Registration
• Game variety and selection
• Jackpots and bonuses
• Convenience

Land-based Casinos in the Philippines

The Philippines has been open to organized gambling since the 19^th century, and several casino resorts exist to prove this. There are over twenty luxury establishments in Metro Manila alone. Top names in the industry include:

• Solaire Resort & Casino
• Casino Filipino Heritage
• Casino Filipino Mimosa
• The Hyatt Regency Hotel & Casino
• Casino Filipino Angeles
• D’Heights Resort and Casino
• Winford Hotel Manila
• Fiesta Resort Casino Poro Point
• Okada Manila Casino
• Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino
• Olongapo Casino Filipino
• Casino Filipino Paranaque
• Casino Filipino Tagaytay

These resorts have several tables for table games and hundreds of slot machines. Since they are located in top Filipino cities that attract thousands of tourists each year, these casinos offer nothing but luxury and opulence. Since the law is clear on land-based gambling, these casinos receive their fair share of business from local and international gamblers. In 2018, about $687 million of the country’s gambling revenue came from land-based casinos. Since they serve as both resorts and casinos, they pull large numbers of facility users, and over weekends patrons flock these places for betting and other forms of entertainment.

Responsible Gambling in the Philippines

Even though gambling has been legal in the Philippines for long, the government saw the folly in legalizing online gambling without an oversight body. The formation of PAGCOR was to regulate the industry so the government could mitigate the addiction associated with gambling.

PAGCOR introduced a program that does the following:

• Trains gaming employees so they can tell signs of addiction in users and act accordingly
• Limits access to a group when it foresees addition
• Prohibits types of games of gambling that have adverse effects on society
• Runs adverts warning of the dangers of uncontrolled gambling

Through regulation and licensing, PAGCOR sees trends of gambling and acts on them before they become distractive. It also ensures only casinos with the right certifications work in the country. This control has seen to it that the 43 million gamers in The Philippines play within their control limits to avoid unnecessary addiction. Players can also seek free help on the Philippines – Gamblers Anonymous.

History of Gambling in the Philippines

There are no clear records of when gambling started in the Philippines, but the 19^th century gets a fair share of mentions. During the Spanish colonial period, residents sent their money and time on horse-race betting and lotteries, two activities that have kept up to date. At some point, Cockfighting became a popular sport and betting option that is said to have led to the growth of other gambling activities. The government of the day banned it got out of control.

The National Charity Sweepstakes was in charge of lotteries but was later disbanded in favor of the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. This body oversees all gambling licensing and is the first of its kind in Asia to license land-based casinos and regulate gaming. While online gambling is not restricted in the Philippines, no Filipino online casino site is authorized to offer these services to locals. They can, however, play through Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, comprised of online casinos formed internationally. Currently, Cock-fighting, Sweepstakes, Lotteries, Horse race betting, Casino games, and Street games are legally overseen by PAGCOR.

Future of Online Gambling in the Philippines

Every Philippine casino online operating under the Cagayan Freeport license offers its gambling services to tourists and not the country’s residents. POGOs, on the other hand, are free to provide gaming services to residents as long as they meet requirements – they should be licensed and regulated by authorities outside the Philippines. This means online gambling is legal in the country under these set conditions.

Under PAGCOR, the government oversees gambling to prevent online gaming from leading to addiction, and this is expected to continue. Since gambling incomes are rising to levels too significant to ignore, it is unlikely that the government will ban online gambling, but it is also unlikely to get its foot off the gas. We expect Filipino residents to continue enjoying their slots and online poker into the foreseeable future under the watchful eye of PAGCOR.

FAQ

🎯 Is Online Gambling Legal in the Philippines?›

No. Online gambling is illegal in the Philippines for local companies offering this service. On the other hand, international casinos with no ties with the country can provide these services as long as they comply with government regulations.

🎯 What is the easiest gambling game to learn and win money?›

The best Filipino casino sites offer slots as the easiest game to play alongside poker. They are both games of chance so that players don’t need prior knowledge or special skills.

🎯 Can I play in Philippine pesos?›

Yes. Some of the best Filipino casino site options have multi-currency customization that allows players to use pesos to deposit and withdraw winnings

🎯 How do I make deposits and cashouts at online casinos from the Philippines?›

Using any of the casino’s selected payment options. Most Filipino online casino sites have banks, credit/debit cards, and eWallets listed as preferred payment methods with varying deposit and withdrawal limits.

🎯 Do I have to play for real money?›

Not all the time. Most developers design their games for free practice playing and real money when you are confident enough to wager.

🎯 Where can I find the best Filipino online casinos?›

Our team of experts has played at most of the best online casinos Philippines and written detailed reviews that you may find useful. Read these reviews here on our site then decide which fits you best.

🎯 Do Philippine Online Casinos Offer Bonuses?›

Yes, they do. They have deposit bonuses where first-time users of accounts are awarded a percentage of their deposits. There are usually other promotions too.

🎯 What is the legal gambling age for Filipinos?›

21 is the legal gambling age for Filipino players.