2024 Metropolitan Manila Gambling Guide
Metropolitan Manila is also known as the National Capital Region, Metro Manila or just Manila. It consists of the capital city Manila and the surrounding areas. It stretches for 619k sq and has a population of 12 million making it the 9th most populated metro area in Asia. There are multiple forms of entertainment around the metro area including, casinos, nightclubs, sportsbooks, theatrical events and Philippine legal online gambling in metropolitan Manila. There are several topics to cover and many sites to see so get ready we’re about to dive right into this metropolitan Manila gambling guide.
Metropolitan Manila Gambling Laws
Metropolitan Manila has to abide by national gambling laws and rules set forth by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Philippine national gambling laws prohibit domestic casinos from offering their online services to Philippine residents but allow for residents to play legal offshore online casinos. To learn more about metropolitan Manila gambling laws we have created legal pages for our readers to use as a guide for Philippine gambling laws.
What Legal Betting Options Are Available In Metro Manila?
While residing in or visiting Metro Manila there are several legal gambling options. You will find legally licensed and regulated brick-and-mortar casinos and poker rooms, land-based sportsbooks, horse race betting, and a lottery that are all physical betting options. Legally licensed online casinos, online poker rooms, and online sportsbooks sites are all allowed when played from licensed offshore sites and often times preferred for their convenience.
Top-Rated Gambling Sites For Metro Manila Residents
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Payout Speed | PH | Play Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Casinos | ||||
 | Up To 7 BTC | Instant | Play Now | |
 | 250% Max $6,000 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
 | 100% Max $3,000 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
 | 50% Max $3,000 | 48 Hours | Play Now | |
 | 200% Max $500 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
 | 200% Max $500 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
| Online Sportsbooks | ||||
| 50% Max $1,000 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
| Up To 7 BTC | Instant | Play Now | |
| 75% Max $1,000 | 48 Hours | Play Now | |
| 50% Max $500 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
| 50% Max $1,000 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
| Online Poker Sites | ||||
| 100% Max $1,000 | 24-48 Hours | Play Now | |
| 100% Max $1,000 | 48 Hours | Play Now | |
Who Regulates Gambling In Metro Manila?
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is the government agency that regulates, operates, authorizes, and licenses games of chance, card games, number games and particularly casinos. Created in 1975 by Presidential Decree 1067-A to operate a casino boat, PAGCOR soon turned into the sole government agency for regulating land-based casinos. Recently they started licensing online casinos as well.
Casino Gambling in Metro Manila
There are many casinos located in the metro area, it is truly a genuine gambling destination. Most are centrally located near the airport in the Manila Bay area and Entertainment City but there are some located a little further out. The legal gambling age is 21 in the Philippines and most of the big casinos stay open 24/7. All land-based casinos are licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Is Online Casino Gambling Legal In Metro Manila?
Online casino gambling is legal in the Philippines as long as players play at licensed offshore sites. Since rural communities make up most of the Philippines outside of Metro Manila, online casinos are often the best place to get the casino experience without having to travel and leave the comfort of home. In the metro area, Philippine legal online casinos are often preferred because of their convenience and bonus offers. The only nuance to pay close attention to regarding visiting online casinos is that Filipino players must restrict their betting action to destinations that are legitimate licensed and regulated offshore, and they are not allowed to play at any Philippine-based or Philippine licensed online casinos.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Metropolitan Manila?
Yes, in Metro Manila sportsbooks are legal both domestically and online. MegaSportsWorld (MSW) is the local sportsbook available to residents who would like to wager at any of their Philippine locations. Players login in and bet at computer terminals and money lines are available for many different regional and international sports. MSW has a limited online sports betting option, too, but offshore sportsbooks are also legal and much more widely used. Philippine players are legally permitted to place bets online from licensed and regulated offshore sportsbooks. Our guide to Philippine legal sports betting is a good tool for players looking for the best betting options and online bonuses.
Is Poker Legal In Metro Manila
Poker rooms are divided up among the casinos and in just about every casino you will find a dedicated poker area. There are several poker tours that make their way through the Philippines and the usual stop in Metro Manila. The Asian Poker Tour, The Asia Pacific Poker Tour, and PokerStars Live are all big tournaments that have annual events in the Philippines and around Asia. Online poker is legal when played on regulated and licensed offshore poker sites. Philippine players enjoy the online poker rooms for the bonuses offered and the unique gameplay options that provide a different experience than what you have at brick and mortar poker rooms. There are also multiple types of Philippine legal online poker games available online including Omaha, Texas Hold’em, Stud Poker, and more.
Prominent Gambling Markets In Metro Manila
In our efforts to serve Metro Manila residents as a comprehensive resource guide, we have created a page dedicated to each of the prominent gambling markets located within the National Capital Region. We will be continuously expanding this section to eventually include all relevant regions.
Other Forms Of Gambling Available To Metro Manila Residents
Horse Betting In The Philippines
Horse racing has been a practiced tradition in the Philippines for over 100 years now. Betting on horse races was first introduced in 1903 and today it has grown into a big business with over 1.3 billion in government revenue reported in 2015. In the Philippines, you can call in a horse race bet, place a bet at the track, bet with domestic sportsbooks, and bet with online racebooks. There are several tracks each located across the Philippines that often host horse racing events. The Manila Jockey Club was established in 1867 and is one of the oldest racing clubs still in existence. They currently have a corporate office in Manila and control operations at their San Lazaro Leisure Park. The Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) are the two regulatory agencies in charge of the horse racing industry. Our guide to Philippine legal horse betting is a great place to start when looking for an online racebook or a local track.
Cock Fighting
Cock Fighting also is known as Sabong, has been a tradition in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Today betting on cockfights is legal and there are cockpits located all around the country. Bookies often take bets at the pit with a series of hand signals. Cockfighting is so popular that they happen just about every day of the week, with Sunday being the biggest fight day. Losing cocks are often saved, stitched up and reused for other purposes. If a cock dies, butches will cut it up and sell the meat, so the cock doesn’t go to waste.
Lottery
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Organization (PCSO) is responsible for bringing a fair and balanced lottery to the Philippines. They offer many variations of lottery games to the public including ultra-lottery, 6-digit game, EZ 2 lottery, Keno and many more. Lottery games are also available to play online.
Things To Do In Metro Manila
While gambling is a major focus to attract tourism into the metropolitan area there are some things that you must do while in Metro Manila. The SM Mall of Asia is in nearby Pasay City and it is currently the 4th largest mall in the Philippines. It is renowned for its popular department stores and international food options. Rizal Park is a public lawn and garden that will often host community events. It is also just a great place to hang out and enjoy the people and the scenery. Manila Ocean Park is an aquatic theme park and educational center featuring an oceanarium and live animal shows. The Ocean Park is great for adults and kids, you could easily spend a day there and not see it all. There are also many other sites to see, Fort Santiago, the National Museum, Malacañang Palace, Manila Zoo, Ayala Museum and many others.