[{"content":"1. Nature of the site Poker PH Guide is an educational information site about poker in the Philippines: laws, licensing, venues and strategy. We do not operate gambling, process bets, or take deposits from readers.\n2. Informational content All content is for information and education. We verify facts against official sources and show verification dates, but we do not guarantee information is error-free or reflects the current rules of any operator. Always confirm with the official source before making decisions.\n3. Age restriction Content related to gambling is for adults 21 and over only, consistent with Philippine law.\n4. No legal advice Nothing on this site is legal advice. For legal matters, consult a qualified Philippine lawyer.\n5. Responsible gaming Gambling involves financial risk. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. See our Responsible Play page for resources, including PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s player exclusion program.\n6. External links We link to third-party sites we do not control and are not responsible for their content or practices.\n7. Intellectual property Original content (text, tables, directories) may be quoted with attribution and a link. Full reproduction without permission is not allowed.\n8. Changes These terms may be updated at any time. Continued use of the site after changes implies acceptance.\nLast updated: October 2026.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/terms/","summary":"The rules for using the content and information on this site.","title":"Terms of Use"},{"content":"This site collects navigation data anonymously and in aggregate (pages visited, device type, country) through analytics tools such as Google Analytics. We do not require registration and do not collect names, emails or payment details directly.\nScope This policy explains what Poker PH Guide collects and why, in line with the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173).\nWhat we collect Aggregated analytics: page views, referrers, device type, approximate country Cookies essential to site function and third-party analytics cookies Your rights You may block or delete cookies in your browser at any time — the site keeps working. For questions about personal data, use the Contact page.\nThird parties We use Google Analytics. Its own privacy policy governs the data it processes.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/privacy/","summary":"What we collect, why, and your rights under the Philippine Data Privacy Act.","title":"Privacy Policy"},{"content":" Corrections \u0026amp; fact-checking: send the page URL and the specific claim you believe is wrong. Verified corrections are applied within 72 hours. Poker room operators: if your club\u0026rsquo;s entry needs updating (address, status, schedule), write to us with your current PAGCOR license details. General inquiries: see the topics on our About page first — most answers are there. Contact email: to be configured — pending domain mailbox setup.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/contact/","summary":"Corrections, verification requests and general inquiries.","title":"Contact"},{"content":"Sourcing Legal and regulatory claims must trace to an official Philippine source: PAGCOR, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Ad Standards Council, the Official Gazette, or the Supreme Court E-Library. Every page touching law or licensing carries a last_verified date. Facts are re-checked when the underlying rules change or at least quarterly. Poker room entries show their own verification status. A venue listed on a PAGCOR document is described exactly as the source describes it — we do not upgrade \u0026ldquo;listed\u0026rdquo; to \u0026ldquo;currently open\u0026rdquo; without independent confirmation. Corrections Found an error? Send it via the Contact page. Verified corrections are fixed within 72 hours and the page\u0026rsquo;s verification date is updated.\nIndependence The poker room directory is not for sale. No paid placements, no sponsored rankings. We do not publish content promoting unlicensed or offshore gambling operators. Commercial affiliation with VG.Poker is disclosed on our About page. Age restriction Content on this site is intended for readers 21 years and older, consistent with Philippine law.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/editorial-policy/","summary":"How we research, verify and update the information on this site.","title":"Editorial Policy"},{"content":"Poker PH Guide is an independent information site about poker in the Philippines: the legal framework, licensed venues, practical guides and player safety.\nWhat we publish Plain-language explanations of Philippine gaming law and PAGCOR licensing, with official sources and verification dates A poker room directory built on PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s official list, with per-venue verification status Beginner-friendly poker education Disclosure This site is operated by a company affiliated with VG.Poker, an online poker platform. When we cover topics related to online poker platforms, this business relationship exists. Our editorial policy requires that legal facts be sourced from official regulators (PAGCOR, BSP, ASC) regardless of commercial interest, and we do not publish promotional claims about unlicensed operators.\nWe do not accept paid listings in our poker room directory, and venue entries are never sold.\nContact Questions, corrections, or verification requests: see our Contact page.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/about/","summary":"Who we are, what we publish, and how this site makes money.","title":"About Poker PH Guide"},{"content":"Poker is a game of skill, but it involves real money and real risk. These are the rules that keep it what it should be: entertainment.\nThe 5 golden rules Play only with entertainment money — never rent, bills, or emergency savings. Set time and money limits before you sit down — and respect them even when you are winning. Never chase losses — raising stakes to \u0026ldquo;win it back\u0026rdquo; is the fastest road to a problem. Alcohol and poker do not mix — bad decisions cost more at the table than almost anywhere else. Take breaks — long sessions tire your judgment. Know the warning signs Increasing stakes to recover losses (chasing) Lying to family about time or money spent Playing at hours that hurt work or sleep Irritability when you cannot play If any of these sound familiar, it is time to pause and get support.\nOfficial resources in the Philippines PAGCOR player exclusion program — you can voluntarily bar yourself from all licensed venues: pagcor.ph/regulatory/exclusion.php PAGCOR responsible gaming email — keepitfun@pagcor.ph Legal age: 21 and over only, enforced by licensed operators through identity checks If gambling has stopped being a game for you or someone close to you, contacting the PAGCOR exclusion program is confidential and free.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/responsible-gaming/","summary":"Poker is a skill game, but it involves real money and real risk. The golden rules that keep it fun.","title":"Responsible Poker Play"},{"content":"Anyone can put \u0026ldquo;licensed\u0026rdquo; on a website. Here is how to check the claim yourself, in about five minutes, using only official Philippine government sources.\nFor land-based poker clubs Go to the PAGCOR regulatory site — pagcor.ph, then the Regulatory section → Poker Clubs. Download the List of Poker Operators with Issued Gaming License. This PDF lists every licensed poker club and its license status. Match the exact legal name. Clubs sometimes trade under a brand name different from their licensed entity. Match the address too. Check the list date. A license valid in 2024 may have lapsed. The list shows its issue date — treat older entries as \u0026ldquo;needs confirmation\u0026rdquo; and call the club. Call before traveling. Confirm the club is open and running the game you want. For online poker platforms Look for PAGCOR accreditation, not just \u0026ldquo;registration.\u0026rdquo; A company registered with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is not automatically licensed to offer gambling. Use PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s online verification service at pagcor.ph to check whether the platform\u0026rsquo;s brand appears among accredited operators. Check the domain carefully. Unlicensed operators clone legitimate brand names with slightly different spellings or new domains. Match character by character. Check the payment flow. Licensed operators collect payments through regulated channels. If a site asks you to send money to a personal GCash/Maya number or bank account, walk away. Confirm the 21+ check. Licensed operators verify your age and identity (KYC). A site that skips KYC is skipping regulation. Red flags No physical address, or an address that does not match any PAGCOR record \u0026ldquo;Licensed in Curacao / Malta / offshore\u0026rdquo; — for serving players inside the Philippines, the relevant regulator is PAGCOR Welcome bonuses that require deposits to personal e-wallets No responsible gaming information or player exclusion links What if I already played on an unlicensed site? Stop depositing. You have no regulator to appeal to if funds are withheld. If you believe you were scammed, you can report to the Philippine National Police cybercrime units or the NBI cybercrime division. Last verified against official sources: October 10, 2026. General information, not legal advice.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/how-to-verify-pagcor-license/","summary":"Before you play — online or offline — confirm the operator is actually licensed. Here is exactly how to check, using only official sources.","title":"How to Verify a PAGCOR Poker License (Step by Step)"},{"content":"This directory is built on PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s official \u0026ldquo;List of Poker Operators with Issued Gaming License\u0026rdquo; (published at pagcor.ph, list dated September 15, 2025). A name on that list means the club held a PAGCOR gaming license on that date — it is not a guarantee the club is open today. Each entry below shows what has been independently verified and when.\nHow we verify: club name against the official PAGCOR list → current operating status via the club\u0026rsquo;s official website or verified social media → address and contact details cross-checked. Entries with unverified status should be confirmed by phone before you travel.\nMetro Manila Metro Card Club — ✅ verified October 10, 2026 Address: Bldg. C, Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Contact: admin@metrocardclub.com · +63 917 532 3063 Website: metrocardclub.com What they run: No Limit Hold\u0026rsquo;em cash games (blinds from 10/20 up to 200/400), Pot Limit Omaha, daily tournaments, periodic series (e.g., RVS Cup) License: listed on PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s official poker operators list Notes: describes itself as the country\u0026rsquo;s largest card room; publishes its blind structures and tournament schedule openly Other clubs on the official PAGCOR list (September 15, 2025) The official list also includes, among others: Masters Poker Club, Wild Aces Poker Sports Club, Voyager Poker Club. We are verifying current operating status, addresses and contacts for each — entries will be added as they are confirmed.\nDoes a PAGCOR license mean the club is safe? It means the club is regulated: games are monitored, staff are accountable to PAGCOR, and disputes have a regulator to appeal to. It does not remove the usual risks of poker — manage your bankroll and see our Responsible Play page. Can tourists play in Philippine poker rooms? Yes — foreign visitors may play at licensed clubs with a valid passport. The 21+ age requirement applies to everyone. Some clubs run tourist-friendly tournaments; check schedules before you go. A club is not on this page. Does that mean it is illegal? Not necessarily — it may be new, or our verification may not be complete. Cross-check the club\u0026rsquo;s name against the official PAGCOR list yourself, and see our guide on how to verify a PAGCOR poker license. Sources: PAGCOR regulatory website (pagcor.ph); metrocardclub.com. Status last verified: October 10, 2026.\n","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/poker-rooms/","summary":"A working directory of licensed poker clubs in the Philippines, built on PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s official list of poker operators. Each entry shows its verification status.","title":"Poker Rooms in the Philippines: Licensed Clubs Directory"},{"content":"Short answer: yes — poker is legal in the Philippines, but only inside a regulated system. Playing poker itself is not against the law. What the law regulates is who is allowed to offer the game: land-based poker clubs need a PAGCOR gaming license, online platforms need PAGCOR accreditation, and offshore unlicensed operators are banned outright.\nLast verified against official sources: October 10, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.\nThe three-part legal picture 1. Land-based poker clubs: legal with a PAGCOR license The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) licenses poker clubs through a structured application process run by its Table Games Department. Licensed clubs operate openly in Metro Manila, Cebu, Clark and other cities. PAGCOR publishes the official list of poker operators with issued gaming licenses on its website — check it before visiting any club.\n2. Domestic online gaming: legal for PAGCOR-accredited operators Online casino games, e-bingo, sports betting and online poker are permitted for operators accredited under PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s domestic licensing framework. Players must be 21 or older, and operators must run KYC checks and responsible gaming tools under PAGCOR supervision.\n3. Offshore gaming (POGO): banned nationwide Republic Act No. 12312 — the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, signed by President Marcos on October 23, 2025 — permanently banned all offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, repealing the old POGO tax law (RA 11590). Penalties include up to 12 years imprisonment and fines up to ₱50 million. The law also canceled POGO licenses previously issued by PAGCOR and economic zone authorities.\nWhat this means for players: a website offering real-money poker without PAGCOR accreditation is operating illegally, no matter how professional it looks. Playing on such a site offers you zero regulatory protection.\nPayments: the rules changed in 2025 In August 2025, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued Memorandum No. M-2025-029, requiring all banks and e-wallets (including GCash and Maya) to remove in-app access to gambling platforms. Wallets complied. Stricter rules on gambling-related payments — biometric verification and daily transaction limits — have been proposed. If you fund online play, expect tighter checks, not looser ones.\nAdvertising: what operators can and cannot show Since June 24, 2026, the Ad Standards Council\u0026rsquo;s Circular 2026-008 prohibits gambling advertising in any medium from showing casino games or equipment — cards, chips, roulette, slot machines. Ads must carry responsible gaming messaging and pass screening. This applies to advertising, not to editorial coverage like this guide.\nHow to protect yourself Check the license — look the operator up on PAGCOR\u0026rsquo;s official site before depositing anything. Be 21+ — that is the legal age, and licensed operators must verify it. Never trust \u0026ldquo;agent\u0026rdquo; payments — unlicensed sites often collect money through personal accounts. Licensed operators use traceable, regulated channels. Know the exclusion tool — PAGCOR runs a player exclusion program if you need to block yourself from licensed venues. Sources Republic Act No. 12312 (Anti-POGO Act of 2025), official text via the Bureau of Internal Revenue / Supreme Court E-Library PAGCOR — Poker Clubs regulatory page and List of Poker Operators with Issued Gaming License (pagcor.ph) BSP Memorandum No. M-2025-029 (August 14, 2025) Ad Standards Council Circular 2026-008 (June 24, 2026) ","permalink":"https://pokerphguide.com/is-poker-legal-in-the-philippines/","summary":"Poker is legal in the Philippines when played at PAGCOR-licensed venues or on PAGCOR-accredited online platforms. Here is how the law actually works, in plain language.","title":"Is Poker Legal in the Philippines? Laws \u0026 Licensing Explained"}]