The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has implemented new restrictions on incentives offered to slot machine players at licensed land-based casinos, setting a maximum combined allowance of 1.5% of betting turnover.

The regulator approved the amendments on October 8 and issued a memorandum outlining the requirements on October 13. The changes took effect immediately upon publication on PAGCOR’s official website.

Under the revised framework, casinos may offer cash rebates of up to 1.4% of slot machine turnover. Non-cash incentive commissions are capped at 0.2%, provided the combined value of both benefits remains within the 1.5% limit.

The amendments also prohibit casinos from deducting player incentives when calculating gross gaming revenue (GGR).

PAGCOR introduced the measures as a separate category within its land-based casino regulations, following earlier restrictions on cashback programmes offered by online gaming operators.

New Rules Establish Separate Slot Machine Limits

The updated provisions distinguish between cash rebates and incentive commissions, placing individual restrictions on each type of player benefit.

Although non-cash commissions can reach 0.2% of turnover, operators must adjust the amount when necessary to comply with the overall ceiling. For example, a casino offering the maximum 1.4% cash rebate could award an additional commission of no more than 0.1%.

Players cannot redeem these commissions for cash.

The Gaming Licensing and Development Department outlined the requirements in its October 13 notice, which also clarified how operators must account for promotional incentives.

According to the memorandum, rebates and commissions “shall not be included as a deduction in the computation of gross gaming revenues.”

The provision extends the restriction on treating player incentives as gaming losses to electronic gaming machines.

PAGCOR uses total turnover to calculate the new slot machine allowances, while the existing rules for traditional table games rely on net turnover.

This distinction establishes different calculation methods for the two gaming categories under the regulator’s casino incentive framework.

Table Game Incentive Thresholds Stay in Place

PAGCOR retained the existing rebate limits for non-junket VIP players and customers participating in junket arrangements.

According to Asia Gaming Brief, for non-junket VIP and high-roller customers, the maximum incentive remains 1.35% of net turnover. Casinos may allocate up to 1.25% to cash rebates, with non-cash commissions subject to a 0.2% individual limit and the overall ceiling.

Junket players continue to qualify for incentives worth up to 1.5% of net turnover, including cash rebates capped at 1.4%.

The rules also prevent players from exchanging table game incentive commissions for cash.

These arrangements remain separate from the newly introduced slot machine provisions, allowing the regulator to apply specific thresholds according to the type of gaming activity.

The amendments therefore introduce additional requirements for slot players while preserving the existing incentive structure for casino table games.

PAGCOR Extends Earlier Gaming Incentive Measures

The latest changes follow restrictions introduced in May 2026 for electronic gaming operators offering rebates and cashback promotions.

Under that framework, PAGCOR established a maximum cash rebate of 1.5% of turnover or player deposits for several online gaming categories.

The provisions cover digital slot machine games and electronic bingo, alongside numeric games and sports betting. Casino table games and arcade-type games are excluded from those particular requirements.

The new land-based rules apply a different structure by distinguishing between cash rewards and non-cash commissions within a combined limit.

They also establish explicit reporting requirements, ensuring that casino operators account for promotional benefits without reducing their declared gross gaming revenue.

For licensed Philippine casinos, the October amendments introduce a specific ceiling on slot machine incentives while maintaining the rebate arrangements already applicable to other gaming products.

Operators must comply with the revised provisions following their immediate implementation.