The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is considering requiring casinos and integrated resorts to adopt smart table technology to strengthen oversight of gaming-floor activity.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, the proposed mandate would give PAGCOR greater visibility into bets and transactions in real time. Implementation is not expected before the second half of 2027.
Integrated Resorts Could Go First
PAGCOR originally considered introducing the requirement earlier, but sources told Inside Asian Gaming that the regulator may initially apply it to large integrated resorts.
Smaller casinos could follow at a later stage. The approach would give smaller operators more time to manage the cost of installing smart table systems while casino revenues remain under pressure from tourism and wider economic conditions.
Smart table technology can capture betting and transaction data more accurately than traditional monitoring methods, giving both operators and regulators a more detailed record of live table activity.
Only a limited number of Philippine casino properties currently use the technology, including Solaire’s two properties in Entertainment City and Quezon City, as well as Newport World Resorts.
Technology Improves Gaming-Floor Monitoring
A wider rollout would give PAGCOR access to more consistent data from gaming floors and could strengthen its ability to monitor casino activity.
For operators, smart tables can also provide more detailed information about player activity and betting patterns. However, installing the technology across existing gaming floors would require significant investment, particularly for smaller properties.
A phased rollout could therefore allow PAGCOR to increase regulatory visibility while giving operators additional time to prepare for the technical and financial requirements.
Macau Provides a Regional Example
Macau offers a regional example of wider smart table adoption.
In 2024, the Macau government encouraged its six gaming concessionaires to introduce radio-frequency identification technology on casino floors. The initiative was partly linked to tracking foreign-player betting activity and followed measures offering potential tax incentives for revenue generated from foreign players.
All six concessionaires have since introduced comprehensive smart table systems capable of tracking bets across gaming floors.
PAGCOR Timeline Remains Unclear
Macau’s experience also shows that smart table technology can support functions beyond regulatory monitoring, including player loyalty programmes and casino-side operational management.
For the Philippines, however, PAGCOR has not yet confirmed the final scope or implementation schedule of a smart table requirement.
If the proposal moves forward, large integrated resorts could become the first properties required to adopt the technology, with smaller casinos potentially included at a later stage.
