PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (left) turns over to Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro of San Manuel, Tarlac (middle) the ceremonial key for the new multi-purpose facility funded by the state gaming regulator while San Manuel Vice Mayor Atty. Benjamin Tesoro looks on.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco on Monday, March 18, led the inauguration of two newly completed multi-purpose centers in the towns of San Manuel and Victoria in the province of Tarlac.
Mr. Tengco said the state gaming agency provided a total of Php100 million for both of the two-story projects.
“Naglaan ang PAGCOR ng limampung milyong piso para sa bawat multi-purpose center sa bayan ng San Manuel at Victoria; mayroon itong iba’t ibang pasilidad gaya ng kusina, storage areas para sa relief goods, toilet at shower rooms, lactating rooms at maluwag na activity area para sa iba’t ibang gawain,” he said.
Students and teachers of Sta. Maria Elementary School in San Manuel, Tarlac greet PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (8th from right, standing) and San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro (7th from right, standing) during the inauguration of the PAGCOR-funded multi-purpose facility on March 18.
The PAGCOR chief said that because the Philippines is very vulnerable to climate change, “typhoons, floods and earthquakes are common occurrences that we must always be prepared for.”
However, he stressed that while the buildings are primarily designed as temporary shelters during emergencies, the structures can be used for various socio-civic activities, too.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (left) and San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro (right) unveil the PAGCOR logo during the inauguration of the two-story facility.
“During the height of the pandemic, when the project was rolled out, there was a high demand for quarantine and evacuation facilities. But now, there is more sense to call these as multi-purpose centers rather than just evacuation facilities,” Chairman Tengco said.
The two-story PAGCOR multi-purpose facility in Victoria, Tarlac.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (right) and Victoria Municipal Mayor Rex C. Villa Agustin (left) unveil the PAGCOR logo during the inauguration of the multi-purpose facility constructed by the state gaming agency in Victoria, Tarlac.
“You may use this facility as your social hall, events area, and livelihood training center. You may also use this building to generate revenues for the local government,” he said.
During the event, Chairman Tengco also introduced PAGCOR’s upcoming flagship programs which include school buildings for public schools, e-learning centers, community wellness centers, and socio civic centers nationwide.
“These upcoming flagship projects are designed to create lasting impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” he said. “These are just some of our nation-building efforts because as you are all aware, PAGCOR is the third largest revenue contributor to the national coffers.”
San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro thanked the PAGCOR chief for the agency’s support.
“We are grateful that PAGCOR saw our need. This multi-purpose center is so far the biggest project that we have seen in San Manuel, and this is proof of PAGCOR’s commitment to serve the Filipinos,” she said.
“We thank everyone who made this dream come to life. Rest assured that we will use this to enrich the lives of our people and the generations to come,” Tesoro added.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (left) shakes hands with Victoria Municipal Mayor Rex C. Villa Agustin during the inauguration of the multi-purpose facility constructed by the state gaming agency in Victoria, Tarlac.
Board Member Harmes Sembrano of the 2nd District of Tarlac also expressed gratitude to PAGCOR for funding the two-story multi-purpose facility in Victoria.
“With our limited resources, we cannot afford to fund all programs that will be beneficial to the people of Tarlac. But because of PAGCOR’s help, we have this new multi-purpose facility which will serve not only the locals of Victoria but also those from neighboring towns,” Sembrano said.
PAGCOR has thus far completed and inaugurated 38 multi-purpose buildings in different parts of the country while 34 others are still under construction.
China has long been in a leading position when it comes to the esports industry, home to many top esports players and a massive fanbase that supports them. However, China’s esports market operates substantially differently from Western markets. What is China’s esports ecosystem like, and how has it been affected by industry troubles that have plagued the West?
In an extended interview with VSPO, a major tournament organiser in China that runs some of the country’s biggest leagues, Esports Insider provides an insight into an ecosystem that is frequently heard about but rarely discussed in Western media.
In the hour-long chat, conducted in Mandarin and translated into English, Dino Ying, CEO of VSPO and Danny Tang, CFO of VSPO, discussed everything from the company’s founding story to the ‘esports winter’ that has left a chill on the shoulders of prominent stakeholders.
The original story
VSPO is an influential actor in the Chinese esports sector. Founded back in 2016 as VSPN, the company’s goal was to offer comprehensive services within esports, spanning production, operation and entertainment. The business primarily consists of three cores: the organisation and operation of esports events, commercialisation, and community management.
Since then the company has worked with top-tier professional esports competitions on game titles Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite (PUBG Mobile in China), CrossFire, League of Legends and many more. VPSO also organised the latest Asian Games (which were postponed to 2023) in Hangzhou, China, which saw esports matches getting medal recognition for the first time.
According to Ying, the formation of VSPO began when he realised there was a strong demand for content and high-level competition in China, but the supply side was lacking. By building esports complexes across multiple cities around the world, the company wanted to bring a range of experiences — from online to offline — to esports fans.
Tang added: “From the very first day of our entrepreneurial journey, we had a clear vision: drive and witness esports become a more influential sport and form of entertainment. Over the past six to seven years, we have gradually seen esports unleash its impact worldwide.”
Assessing the Chinese esports market
Since its creation, the company has seen significant changes in the esports landscape, none more so than the mobile esports ecosystem. According to VSPO’s CFO, the decision to focus on the mobile gaming route has paid off in the Eastern world.
“Our judgment at that time was that mobile phones would definitely become mainstream because as more and more time was spent on mobile gaming, the demand for content and experience would naturally shift to the mobile side,” mentioned Tang.
Alongside the growth of gamers across mobile, PC and console, esports also rose in popularity, becoming part of China’s pop culture extremely quickly. Back in 2019, League of Legends professional player Jian ‘Uzi’ Zi-Hao was voted Weibo Person of the Year, beating all the other Chinese celebrities on the platform. Esports is also featured in several TV series, including ‘Crossfire’ and ‘You are my Glory’.
Paired with the development of technology and the enhancement of online and offline competitions, tournament organisers also started to make major events become ‘fan spectacles’ alongside sporting competitions.
According to Tang, the industry is entering a phase where it is trying to break previous barriers, caused by specific preferences of local markets and game titles. “I believe that in the coming years, the industry will break those barriers, truly achieving global integration”, she said.
VSPO’s investment from Savvy Games Group
VSPO came under the spotlight in the Western world when the company received a $265m (~£219m) investment by Saudi Arabian government-owned esports company Savvy Games Group, which intends to accelerate and support VSPO’s global strategy.
The news received some criticism from the esports community due to the country’s human rights record, and Saudi Arabia’s government getting increasingly involved in esports has led to a backlash within sections of the industry. Savvy Games Group has heavily integrated itself into esports over the past few years. The company formed the ESL FACEIT Group, which recently faced a round of layoffs, for $1.5bn (~£1.19bn) in 2022. This also sparked concerns over ‘esportswashing’, a term used to describe how esports is used mask the country’s rights record.
From a business perspective, though, VSPO claims that the two parties are aligned. “When we first interacted with Savvy [Games Group], everyone’s view on esports was consistent,” said Ying. “We both agreed and shared the vision of establishing a recognised and independent event system. Overall, the feeling was good.”
Has China been affected by the Esports Winter?
Despite its chilling name, the so-called esports winter has been a hot topic in recent times. Following the industry’s downturn and economic struggles, various esports companies have gone through shutdowns, layoffs, consolidations and restructurings.
Whilst there are always going to be outliers, businesses in the esports space have struggled to generate profits. Moreover, the allure of creating short-term business models in exchange for growth is slowly disappearing due to its unsustainability. While this trend is affecting the industry worldwide, Ying claims that the ‘esports winter’ has not impacted his own company.
When asked about his thoughts on the subject, the CEO gave a clear reason as to why he believes the Western world is facing such challenges: a lack of strong competitive performances and the development of higher-quality competition.
The Chinese community is known for its results-focused nature, which correlates with fanbases watching the best competitive content. Ying made an interesting comparison with traditional sports. “In football, there are leagues that are more commercialised than others. The fans worldwide end up watching the most competitive European leagues like the Premier League, whilst the Chinese domestic league doesn’t have such a great following.”
This same logic is applied to esports. He explained that since the Western domestic market is not the best from a competitive perspective, it becomes increasingly difficult to commercialise it: “The problem now is that the internet allows users to get easy access to the best content. So, if you do not provide the best content, they won’t watch it.”
According to Ying, a lack of strong competitive results is a major factor behind the worse commercialisation. The accessibility of fans across the globe further amplifies the issue. “Sponsors know you’re not the best in the world, so commercialising is difficult because users can directly watch matches from the best regions such as China and South Korea.”
He revealed that China also suffers from similar issues, depending on which titles it competes in. “Competitive teams from games like League of Legends, Honor of Kings, PUBG, they all can support themselves. Others, instead, struggle. Why? Poor performance,” he added.
Still, Ying did admit that China having lower costs to run competitions is a major factor that has impacted the country’s esports sustainability. For example, he highlighted that one of its largest sponsorship deals for the KPL (King Pro League), the Chinese professional league for Honor of Kings, was worth around $10m (per year). “While it is more than enough to operate in China, it would be unfeasible for a large sports league in the United States,” he added.
Focusing on community
While there are several hurdles to tackle, esports is still growing and more opportunities will arise. Danny Tang is convinced that more changes need to happen in the gaming landscape to reduce the esports winter’s effects — and not just from a business and commercial perspective.
Community is a big part of what makes esports tick, so enlarging the fanbase should, in theory, benefit the scene in the long run. Tang put a particular emphasis on the female audience, which is already close to 50% in China, according to a Chinese 2023 Global Esports Industry Development report.
Encouraging people to be part of this culture and developing a more inclusive community is what allows products to transition from a niche to mainstream status. By doing so, a larger community opens up a lot more room for monetisation, including sponsorship opportunities and the commercialisation of services and products.
Tang is convinced that game companies should find ways to incentivise participation by lowering the barriers to entry, which explains why the mobile and freemium models have been so successful. “All designs are focused on providing joy to players, and esports becomes part of their product content,” Tang explained.
“As long as you provide them with a conducive environment and more ways for beginners to integrate into this environment, they will be willing to interact and watch matches.”
China’s two sessions, which include the National People’s Congress (NPC) and National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) started on March 4 this year.
Over 10,000 policy proposals are submitted each year which are then forwarded to relevant government departments for discussion, which may lead to a new policy or be rejected.
Delegates made numerous proposals that may impact the video game industry in China, particularly around anti-addiction regulations (and one person suggested to completely ban video games), but other proposals suggested the benefits of serious games and gametech. Similar proposals happened in past years.
INTRALOT is pleased to announce the signing of a new agreement with Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd, a leading gaming company in Malaysia. This agreement follows the successful outcome of an international call for tenders issued by Magnum Corporation in 2022. The term of the new agreement is for seven (7) years, with an option for two extensions of five (5) years each, thereby providing the opportunity for another seventeen (17) years of strategic and productive collaboration with Magnum Corporation.
INTRALOT will help enhance Magnum Corporation’s current retail offering through a seamless transition to its modern LotosX Omni ecosystem. Comprising of LotosX Central Gaming System, PlayerX Player Account Management System, RetailerX Retailer Management System, DMS Device Management System, PhotonX Gaming Terminals, Canvas Content Management System, and Orchestrator, LotosX Omni will enable Magnum Corporation to implement a comprehensive omnichannel strategy to seamlessly engage their customers across both traditional and digital channels, promising to enhance customer experience and improve productivity.
The CEO of Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Lawrence Lim Swee Lin, commented: “Magnum Corporation is proud to continue this partnership with INTRALOT, a steadfast ally in helping us grow our business, and to innovate the gaming experience for our customers. With our industry expertise and INTRALOT’s cutting-edge technology, we are crafting a future of innovation together, creating a more immersive gaming experience with enhanced levels of personalization and security, both in our retail and digital spaces.”
Mr. Marios Mitromaras, CEO of INTRALOT Australia, stated: “We are very pleased to keep working with Magnum Corporation. Our continued collaboration is a partnership built on trust, understanding and a shared commitment in elevating gaming excellence for their customers. INTRALOT has an established presence in the country since 2006, helping Magnum Corporation grow its business and create value for the local community. We look forward to deploying our cutting-edge technology and high-quality operating services as Magnum Corporation continues to push boundaries and take steps to modernize their player experience.”
Skyesports, the premier esports tournament organizer based in India catering to gamers across Asia, has officially announced the initial lineup of invited Counter-Strike 2 teams set to compete in the highly anticipated Skyesports Masters 2024, as the company eyes global expansion. Scheduled to unfold offline in India from April 8 to 14, this thrilling event promises a week-long spectacle of intense Counter-Strike action, as eight formidable teams lock horns to become the ultimate masters and for a share of the staggering $350,000 prize pool.
Among the distinguished participants revealed in this first wave of invitations are some of the most renowned names in Counter-Strike esports:
Team Liquid
Ninjas In Pyjamas
ENCE
BIG
Team Liquid and Ninjas In Pyjamas are two of the most notable names in Counter-Strike esports, with the latter being a Major winning organization. Furthermore, ENCE is a world-famous team from Poland, headlined by the 4-time Major winning player, Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander. Last but not the least, Germany’s BIG will also be competing in the Skyesports Masters with a stellar lineup.
The four teams will be joined by two more invited teams and the champion of the Europe Qualifiers. Finally, the champion of the India Qualifier will also compete in the Skyesports Masters 2024, providing the home fans with a local team to rally behind. The details for the Europe and India Qualifiers will be revealed at a later date. With the final eight teams, fans are set to be treated with intense Counter-Strike esports action as the world’s best lock horns for the title. Stay tuned to Skyesports’ Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook handles for more information.
With notable teams participating, a $350,000 prize pool, and a seven-day LAN event, the Skyesports Masters is set to feature nail-biting Counter-Strike esports action for fans. The eight teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket to determine the champion.
The Skyesports Masters is a part of Skyesports’ 2024 roadmap for Counter-Strike 2, which includes a total prize pool of $1 million across six international tournaments, as Skyesports solidifies its presence in the global esports roadmap for the FPS. The first of these is the Skyesports Grand Slam 2024, set to take place in Pune, India from March 14 to 16 with four teams – one from India, one from Australia, and two invited international teams – locking horns for a chunk of the $50,000 prize pool.
Besides the Skyesports Grand Slam and the Skyesports Masters, Skyesports will be bringing the Championship 6.0, Skyesports Souvenir Colombo, Skyesports Global Tour in Thailand, and the India vs Pakistan Series in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The Skyesports Masters was launched in 2023 with an impressive $240,000 prize pool. In its first year, eight esports organizations competed across a month-long regular season leading into the Playoffs in Bangalore, India for the title. Now, the premium IP is being expanded in 2024 with a bigger prize pool and international teams.
Imagine Live, an innovator in the online gaming industry, is excited to announce its victory at the prestigious SIGMA Eurasia Awards 2024. The company has been honored with the esteemed nomination “Best Live Casino Provider,” recognizing its innovative contributions to the live casino gaming experience.
The SIGMA Eurasia Awards celebrate innovation within the gaming industry, bringing together key players and visionaries to acknowledge and commend outstanding achievements. Imagine Live stood out among its peers, demonstrating a commitment to delivering premium live casino services and setting new benchmarks for the industry.
Imagine Live has consistently demonstrated innovation, leveraging the latest technology and a client-centric approach to provide a dynamic live casino environment. The company’s dedication to delivering premium and engaging gaming experiences has garnered widespread acclaim from partners and players.
This accolade follows a series of recent achievements for Imagine Live, highlighting the company’s commitment to innovation in the online gaming sector. As the recipient of the “Best Live Casino Provider” award, Imagine Live solidifies its position in the live casino gaming space.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation said it has asked the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) for approval of salary step increments based on employees’ length of service to correct distortions caused by its new Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS).
In a letter to GCG Chairperson Atty. Marius Corpus dated February 22, 2024, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the PAGCOR Board of Directors has approved the implementation of step increments but it needs GCG approval.
“Parallel to the thrust of the PAGCOR Board of Directors to prioritize the welfare of the employees, the PAGCOR Board approved the Implementation of Step Increment based on Length of Service, subject to GCG’s review and approval,” he said in the letter.
The PAGCOR chief said the step increment is only the first of many appeals that the agency plans to lodge with the GCG so that PAGCOR employees may enjoy competitive salaries and benefits comparable to other revenue-generating GOCCs.
PAGCOR received its Authority to Implement the CPCS on January 31 this year. However, majority of the employees were dismayed to see that their take-home pay decreased when they received their salaries on the first payday under CPCS on February 15, 2024.
The CPCS also caused distortions in pay scale since all employees were reverted to Pay Step 1 regardless of their years of service. This means that a new employee in a certain position gets the same salary as someone who has been in the same position for 15 years or more.
Chairman Tengco said the Step Increment appeal is only the first of many which the agency plans to lodge with the GCG to remedy the overall decrease in employees’ take home pay, especially for those who occupy the lowest rungs in the organization.
“We hope that the GCG will positively respond to our appeal so that all tenured PAGCOR employees will not feel shortchanged, and instead receive the compensation that they deserve under the bounds of the law,” he added.
A provision under the CPCS implementing guidelines states that “one step increment shall be granted to qualified personnel for every three years of continuous satisfactory service in the present position.”
Records show that as of December 31, 2023, a total of 7,057 PAGCOR personnel or 72.60% of the agency’s workforce have been in service for more than three years in their respective positions.
BINGO aficionados are in for another treat as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) brings back its popular linked bingo games dubbed “Mas Pinasayang Bingo Big Time Milyonaryo” on March 17, 2024 at the Le Pavillon Metropolitan Park in Pasay City.
Up to Php2 million in prizes will be up for grabs in Game 10 while a guaranteed pot of Php1 million each is at stake in the first nine games of the event.
Interested players may join through the host site or at Casino Filipino branches in Angeles, Bacolod, Cebu, Grand Regal, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Mactan, Mandaue, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Tagum and Talisay.
For every ticket worth Php3,000, participants will get to play four cards per game for 10 games.
The “Mas Pinasayang Bingo Big Time Milyonaryo” is a fitting sequel to the “Paskong Big Time Bingo Milyonaryo” linked bingo games held last December where seven lucky players won Php1 million each.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCor) today said that it welcomes the decision of online gaming giant 1888BET to move its operations from the Isle of Man back to the Philippines.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for PAGCor, Alejandro H Tengco, said 188BET’s return ‘is a huge vote of confidence for the country as a regulatory haven and this is precisely what PAGCor is working hard at’.
“188BET’s move is a very positive response to our call for gaming investors to come to the Philippines,” Tengco said. “We would like to assure 188BET and other potential investors that PAGCor shall continue to be fair to everybody and that there will be a level playing field with a predictable and dependable regulatory framework.”
188BET announced its decision to move its operations to the Philippines earlier this week. The sports betting and casino company said that, effective March 19, its current operator, Cube Limited, will surrender its current Io MGSC licence in the Isle of Man and that 188BET will be operated by a new Philippines-based company, BestCommerce Corporation, which is licensed and regulated by PAGCor.
Tengco encouraged other investors to ride on the Philippine gaming industry’s growth momentum.
“Overall, the industry can expect sustained growth in the next five years with at least one integrated resort (IR) opening every year beginning this year in Quezon City to be followed by new IRs in Cebu, Clark and other equally strategic locations,” Tengco said.
He added that the industry can also expect PAGCor’s full decoupling from its casino operations within that time frame to become a purely regulatory entity dedicated to overseeing growth and attracting more investments.
“We shall also continue lowering our license fees and modernizing our systems to help realize our vision of making the Philippines the gold standard in gaming in the Asia-Pacific region,” Tengco said.
188BET used to hold office in Makati but it moved out of the country during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Twelve people suspected of involvement in illegal online gaming operations were arrested today, February 16, in an exclusive Parañaque City subdivision after a month-long surveillance, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the arrests were made by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) together with the PAGCOR monitoring team.
“The raiders were armed with a warrant to search, seize and examine operations of computer data against the suspects who were caught red-handed while operating the illegal online gaming platform https://www.tbb888.com or the Big Bet,” Chairman Tengco said.
The illegal gaming site has been operating games like slot machines, live casino, e-sports, among others. Authorities seized from the suspects eleven computer sets, 21 mobile phones, 2 ipads, 6 laptops and flash drives, according to the PAGCOR chief.
Onsite examination revealed that the confiscated gadgets contain evidence of the group’s illegal online activities, said PAGCOR Senior Vice President for Security and Monitoring Cluster Raul Villanueva.
The raid was conducted inside BF Northwest Subdivision, an affluent enclave whose residents include some of the most prominent political and business leaders in Parañaque.
Mr. Villanueva said cases will be filed against the suspects before the Parañaque Regional Trial Court.
“The operation was part of our unified efforts to intensify the fight against illegal online gambling because we have a marching order from PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco to put a stop to these illegal activities,” Mr. Villanueva said.
“We will continuously collaborate with law enforcement authorities such as the PNP and even the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to put a stop to these,” he said.
“We advise the public to stop patronizing illegal online gaming sites and instead play on legal platforms to protect themselves. Unfortunantely, most of the victims of these illegal sites are Filipino bettors.
“We are also working closely with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center under the Department of Information and Communications Technology because we have a lot more targets under surveillance,” he added.
According to Mr. Villanueva, close to 5,000 illegal online gaming sites were operating in the country at one time but 80% of these were already blocked.
“We need to consistently monitor and report them to authorities not only to protect the bettors but to also ensure that revenues from regulated gaming are channeled back to the government for its nation-building programs,” he said.
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