Cagayan (CEZA) Licensed Casinos

Introduction to Cagayan Gambling Law and Regulation

Gambling is a pastime that has been around for centuries. It continues to be popular even today. It can be addictive, but there are ways to break the habit if it becomes too much. Gambling can provide entertainment, stress relief, or financial gain. But, it is important to be aware of the risks involved before starting.

Gambling is mainly of three types which are physical casinos or land-based facilities, online casinos, and sports betting on publicly available events. These mainly include horse races or football matches. Each type comes with its own set of risks and rewards which users should consider.

Gambling is a big business in the Philippines, with estimated revenue of $17.5 billion generated in 2011. The country has tons of establishments. All these offer gambling services and approximately 120 million gamblers nationwide. This figure is as per government figures.

An assessment by a survey hinted at the high potential for gaming industry growth on Mindanao island. Here, Cagayan falls victim because it’s considered one of Southeast Asia's biggest casino meccas, although, sadly nothing came out from this claim. It led both local and international operators alike to plunder the beloved province.

History

Gambling has a long and colorful history, with many cultures enjoying the thrill of risk. In some cases, it is considered an important part of community life. While in others it can be seen as nothing more than a vile addiction.

Although, gambling may not be popular anymore in mainstream society. There is no doubt that the activity remains deeply ingrained within Philippine culture. Gambling has been a part of its society for centuries. The earliest form of gambling was probably betting on horse races. In the early 1800s, Cagayan province became well known for its casinos and gaming dens. This is particularly evident in the city of Caguas. There are many sprawling casino complexes spread out over several blocks.

Gambling in the Philippines has a long and colorful history. The country is home to some of the world’s oldest casinos. The casinos first opened in 1902. Gambling also plays an important role in Philippine society. It is considered one of the country's main sources of income outside agriculture and manufacturing.

The boom years for Cagayan's casinos were the 1990s. Tourists from all over Asia descended on the Philippines in search of legalized gambling opportunities. Casinos employed hundreds if not thousands of Filipinos. Locals were employed as dealers, bartenders, and security guards. People made big money working.

Currently, gambling enjoys widespread popularity in Cagayan province specifically. This is according to recent surveys conducted by both local governments and private sector organizations. Casinos remain one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cagayan.

Gambling Laws

Gambling has been a part of many cultures for centuries. In some cases, it is seen as just another form of entertainment. For others, it can be used to make money. There are various types of gambling and each country has its laws. Laws govern which games are legal and how much you can win or lose.

In the Philippines, there were two major forms of legalized gambling – lotteries and casinos. Lotteries were first introduced in the early 1800s by Spanish colonizers. It was introduced as a way to raise revenue for government coffers. Casinos began appearing during World War II when Americans visited Manila to gamble.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is an intra-governmental agency. CEZA was made through Executive Order No. 263, issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The main objective of this body was to help in the development of economic zones in Cagayan province. CEZA operates mainly as a body overseeing the investment guidelines set by the government.

This is for selected industries within its proposed economic zone areas. CEZA also offers support services such as accounting and auditing, land registration, and industrial licensing. Under CEZA no local players can gamble in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone except hotel guests.

CEZA As Regulatory Body in Cagayan

CEZA is an Economic Zone with the ability to issue any form of incentives to locators. It is also a Gaming Authority that acts as a regulator of the gaming jurisdiction. This is possible with the power to license Interactive Gaming and Landbased Gaming activities.

All this without needing to secure prior approval from any other authority. CEZA is one of the most powerful agencies in Cagayan. It wields a lot of power and enjoys high impunity rates. All these undermine its effectiveness as an anticorruption and regulatory body.

Any kind of gambling which is illegal and unregistered is punishable. These are all offenses in Cagayan, especially by local players. To keep a check on such illegal gambling activities, CEZA was formed in 1995. The goal was to verify licenses and operators inside the gambling market.

Regular checks and tests with the software are made by the respective authorities to check authenticity. This keeps in check whether an operator is providing services legally or not in the province. Finally, all licensees must adhere to strict moral standards outlined by the authority. This includes prohibiting underage gambling and marketing products.

The authority aimed to prevent corruption and illegal activities. Also, different money laundering in the gambling market of Cagayan was prevented. It is applicable for all sorts of games including sports betting, casinos, poker, and lottery. After 2010, after the formation of the CEZA, gambling services flourished in the province.

License Provisions of CEZA

CEZA provides several licenses when it comes to online gambling. An Interactive Gaming License is a kind of license granted by the CEZA to an offshore company. The company must not be in the Philippines.

License is mainly to do business as an interactive gaming operator. This includes taking bets and paying out winnings to players outside the Philippines. There are two types of IGL namely E-Casino and Sports Betting. A user may apply for either or both types.

CEZA aims at improving the Cagayan gambling market, making it a hub for foreign companies. To achieve its goals, CEZA is guided by many principles. This is required to keep the authority on track. The principles of authority are:

• Ensuring an equal playing field for different proponents.
• Maintaining an orderly and regulated predictable environment.
• Enforcing all license terms and laws laid down.
• Promoting equality and fairness in the conduct of all games for the equal chance.
• Providing players with a trustable platform for gambling.
• Preventing minors and underage users from gambling.
• Preventing financially weaker people from gambling and keeping a check on gambling addiction.
• Preventing gambling venues from using gambling for illegal activities.

The license was provided by CEZA in Cagayan as a source of security and authenticity for the operator. But in recent times there are some downsides to the license. Many people in Cagayan are looking for other licenses like the Curacao gambling licenses. This proves that not everyone thinks highly of the laws related to gambling present in Cagayan.

Player Protection with CEZA Licensing

The license from CEZA protects players and gives you a safe environment to play. When choosing an online sports betting site, there are always some important considerations. You should always consider these for your safe entertainment experience. Take a good look at the logo on the portal and ensure that the site is official and safe to play.

Sites that do not have any certification can be closed at any point in time by the authority. Your money may be confiscated once the portal is captured. So CEZA provides a safe playground for all its users. Also, it ensures that financial security is of the highest level for all players.

All gambling websites have to comply with CEZA regulations periodically. It is to ensure that all these sites are following the strict software requirements. The major objective of CEZA is the security of all players. CEZA takes any sort of complaints made by you seriously. It tries its best to solve them as quickly as possible.