Is playing bingo gambling? Is this illegal or not? Here’s all about bingo in the Philippines!
Bingo game is an instant-win game that has already gathered a lot of fans and before playing, here are some things about Bingo in the Philippines including its history.
Although Filipino players enjoy the relaxed experience of casual gameplay, in other countries, Bingo is a popular game for real money as well, like in the UK, for instance.
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Bingo – is it considered gambling?
There are a lot of things to love about bingo. Especially in the Philippines, a lot of people have become fans of this game for relaxation and pleasure as this game is pretty simple to play.
Among the favorite elements of many people about this is that anyone can play! And in these digital times, some companies have come up with something that will make them play this game more easily. This game is a huge thing in the Philippines which can now be played online.
But first, let us dive into the rich history of this game. This was first introduced by Christian missionaries to the Filipinos. It has created a massive popularity and during the 1990s, people eventually went crazy about this game.
It was the churches that spread this game to the entire country.
Filipinos have then found a way to create their own version of this. Instead of using balls, they have these chips with a number on them and these chips are put inside a bottle where they will be randomly drawn.
A pattern will be announced and whoever completes the pattern first wins the game.
The Philippines also have its own popular bingo show called “Pinoy Bingo”.
In 2013, PAGCOR conducted the first-ever e-linked bingo game called “Shower of Millions Bingo” which had a total cash prize worth Php 12.4 million. This event was a huge success. Several participants instantly became millionaires and one person was even able to take home the Php 2 million grand bingo jackpot.
You can see groups of people playing bingo up to this date and some malls in the Philippines have game halls for this attracting rich and poor alike. If this isn’t yet a perfect description of how Filipinos are fond of this game, just take a stroll around densely populated areas and there’s always an area for this game.
Now, is this legal or illegal?
According to the Philippine law, Section 2 of Executive Order No. 13 in 2017, illegal gambling is committed if a “game scheme is not authorized or licensed by the government agency duly empowered by law or its charter to license or authorize the conduct of such games, or is conducted in a manner that violates the terms and conditions duly prescribed by the said government agency”.
However, games such as bingo are allowed as parlor games or for merely home entertainment.
Games regulated by Philippine Amusement And Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and other lottery offices are legal. Philippine regulatory agencies other than PAGCOR include First Cagayan Leisure And Resort Corporation (FCRLC), Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM), the Games And Amusements Board (GAB), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
What are the penalties for illegal gambling? According to Republic Act (No. 9287), it has been declared that violators can get 30 days to 20 years of imprisonment depending on the charge as stated in this new amendment.
Bingo is a game of luck and it is the game that usually comes to our minds when we think of “Filipino gambling”. Other countries also have a love for this game and this is most popular in the UK, the leading country in the global market.
This game is actually straightforward and simple. It demands no special skills or knowledge – as mentioned above, just pure luck. And this must be the reason why a lot of Filipinos are fond of bingo. They can just chill and play with it without any pressure.