In a surprising turn of events, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has recalled the revocation of the licenses to operate e-Bingo of online gambling operator AB Leisure Exponent.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, publicly listed firm AB Leisure Exponent, which is owned by Negros Occidental congressman Albee Benitez, said it has reopened 20 e-Bingo sites closed down by Pagcor recently.
The e-gambling operator said Pagcor?s board of directors recalled the revocation upon the recommendation of its Gaming Licensing and Development Department (GLDD) and Corporate and Legal Services Department (CLSD).
Pagcor, according to AB Leisure Exponent, said chose ?to honor the licenses of operators whose gaming sites are located inside malls, arcades, and hotels and consider them exempted from distance requirements.?
The gaming regulator earlier shut down 36 sites of AB Leisure Exponent for non-compliance with the distance regulation guidelines, which states that gaming sites should be located 200 meters away from schools and places of worship.
The resumption of eBingo operations is effective until the expiration of the licenses of the sites, the company said.
But the company also noted that Pagcor is studying whether they will permanently maintain the exemption of malls, arcades, and hotels from the distance requirements.
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte earlier vowed that he intends to close down e-gambling games in the country, including e-bingo.
