The City Council of Cagayan de Oro City in the Philippines approved last Tuesday a resolution "taking note and cognizance" of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation's (PAGCOR) application for Internet gaming station operations in this jurisdiction. First stated as "interposing no objection" to the PAGCOR application, the councilors last week backed down from similar wording used in endorsing the slot machine operations at one of the hotels in the city. Reeling from the criticism it earlier received from church and civic leaders, some council members expressed caution on giving their explicit endorsement to another gambling operation in the city. Councilor Maryanne Enteria also argued that since PAGCOR's gambling operations do not require the council approval, its endorsement was not really necessary.

Games and amusement committee chair Councilor Reynaldo Advincula defended the latest PAGCOR gaming scheme to operate in the city, saying the amusement body will provide betting stations to prevent its access to minors. The betting stations will be similar to that of lotto operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) but in minimal numbers. PAGCOR's Internet betting features gambling games such as BasketballJackpot & GamePick. Players can line up to place their wagers at various PAGCOR Internet Sports Betting Stations (ISBS), which offer wagering on different gaming formats such as Final Scores, the famous Last 2 Digits ending game and Las Vegas-type games (Point Spread, Over/Under and Pick-to-Win). All formats are based on the results of actual basketball games. Persons under 21 years old are prohibited from playing.

It is not clear whether PAGCOR will also introduce its Online Betting on Cockfights in its operations in the city. The Internet-based cockfight betting system has gained popularity in Manila. Dubbed as TeleSabong, it is the country's first Internet-based cockfight betting system where the game results are based on the outcome, or series of outcomes, of a four-cock-derby. The online betting formats follow the traditional cockfighting formats such as Singles, Parlays, and Pick the Derby Champion. Wagerers can place their bets either through their online connections or through PAGCOR's Internet sports betting stations.

Officials of the Catholic Church's local diocese have yet to issue statements on the matter, although earlier church spokesman Monsigñor Elmer Abacahin slammed the slot machines operations, to be located in a hotel under construction near Limketkai. The Church official said it will lead a massive action against the gambling facility. (E-06.16.05)

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