By Chino S. Leyco The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) will temporarily stop accepting applications for new offshore casinos in the country while exploring other markets that may potentially match the revenues coming from Chinese players. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) (MANILA BULLETIN) Pagcor Chairperson Andrea Domingo said yesterday that the gaming regulator has imposed a moratorium on new Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) following the concerns raised about the growing number of Chinese workers in the country. “Since last week, I’ve been working with our group that handles this with Atty. Tria . I already told him to stop accepting applications… until we have reviewed and comfortably address all the concerns of everybody, including the concerns of the senators,” Domingo said in a briefing. Domingo disclosed that there are currently three pending applicants that want to set up shops in the country, and 58 POGO-licensees with their more than 200 service providers. “The are only three pending, so if they’ll be approved, we have a maximum of 61 , and then we will no longer accept anymore applications,” the Pagcor chief said. “It’s about time after two-and-a-half years of implementing this program, we stop and look at all other concerns that we have not met comfortably and effectively,” she added. But while there is a moratorium on new online casinos, Domingo said that Pagcor is also trying to lure offshore gaming operators from the United States and Europe to invest in the Philippines. “We’re promoting this gaming in Europe and the United States,” Domingo said, adding the potential investors could come from countries where gambling is allowed like United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Estonia, and three other European nations. She also said that online casinos are permitted in several US territories including Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. The Pagcor chief, likewise, did not rule out the possibility that Japanese casino operators may consider investing in the Philippines. “These markets are our focus this time because I think the Chinese market is already saturated,” Domingo said. “We’re also looking into other Asian countries… We’re trying to tell them to come here and try.” Asked if these new markets being considered by Pagcor could match the gaming revenues coming from the Chinese market, Domingo said “yes,” citing that sports betting alone in the US earns at least $25 billion per year. “We can assure them that there’s fair play and there’s a good regulation in the gaming industry,” she added. There are an estimated 138,000 foreign nationals, who are mostly Chinese, working in the Philippines today.