Pagcor implements 1.50pct turnover cap on incentives for slot players

The Philippines has implemented previously-proposed limits on cash rebates and other incentives for slot machine players at licensed land-based casinos. The industry regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), said in a Tuesday memo it had implemented the measures following a board meeting on October 8. For slot players, the maximum incentive is now 1.50 percent of turnover, comprising a maximum 1.40 percent in cash rebate, with the remainder available for “incentive commission”, capped at 0.20 percent. The latter is not be redeemable for cash. That is according to the memo from Pagcor’s Gaming Licensing and Development Department, dated October 13. The measures take effect immediately upon publication on the regulator’s website. The document reiterated that for gaming tables, the maximum incentive is 1.35 percent of net turnover for non-junket VIP/high roller players, consisting of a maximum 1.25 percent in cash rebate, with the remainder available for incentive commission, capped at 0.20 percent and not redeemable for cash. For junket players, the maximum incentive is 1.50 percent of net turnover, comprising a maximum of 1.40 percent in cash rebate, with the remainder available for incentive commission, again capped at 0.20 percent and not redeemable for cash. In May, Pagcor flagged separate limits for cash rebates or cashback programmes that providers of electronic games can offer online players. The regulator stated at that time that the maximum permissible cash rebate was 1.50 percent of turnover or player deposits for digital slot machine games, electronic bingo games, numeric games, and sports betting, “except for casino table games and arcade-type games”.