A dispute has developed in the Philippines over a proposed e-casino office in Angeles City following demonstrations earlier this week by students.
First reported here yesterday, students from Angeles University Foundation Professional School protested at the proposed site for Emaja Internet Gaming Enterprises as they believed it to be too close to their School. According to guidelines from the Philippine Amusement And Gaming Corporation (PAGCor), any Internet casino must not be within 200 metres of a school and church.
Emaja's owner, Emmanuel Jacinto stated that the demonstrations had disrupted his plans along with traffic despite the fact that he received permission from PAGCor as the site for the planned centre is 206 metres from the School.
However, the Mayor of Angeles City, Francis Nepomuceno, has now stated that the online casino company has no permit to operate, as Roxas Sangalang, chief of the City's Business Permit and Licensing Division, has not issued a business permit.
Nepomuceno said that the local government does not condone the proliferation of illegal gambling in the area with the City official who measured Jacinto’s offices also claiming that he did not know he was issuing a certificate on the measurements to an online gambling facility.
Angeles City is just north of Manila with Nepomuceno stating that the business permit for the online casino was put on hold after students from Angeles University Foundation Professional School expressed strong objections against its operation on grounds of its proximity to schools and churches.