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Getting a licence is only the beginning. To keep it, operators must meet ongoing obligations and be ready for audits and renewals. This article covers what to plan for after approval.
Know your ongoing obligations
- Paying licence fees and other regulatory charges on time
- Submitting regular reports to PAGCOR and other authorities
- Meeting AML duties, including transaction reporting and record retention
- Notifying the regulator of changes in ownership, key staff, platform or providers
- Keeping business permits and tax registrations current
Create a compliance calendar
List every deadline, including report submissions, fee payments, certificate renewals, audits and licence renewal, and assign an owner to each. Set reminders well ahead of each date so documents can be prepared without rushing.
| Item | Owner | Reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory reports | Compliance officer | Two weeks before due date |
| Licence and regulatory fees | Finance | One month before due date |
| Game and system certificates | Technical lead | Three months before expiry |
| Business permits and tax registrations | Admin or finance | Before the yearly renewal period |
| Licence renewal | Management and lawyer | Several months ahead |
Keep policies and systems current
Review your policies at least once a year and whenever rules change. Update your platform when new technical requirements are introduced, and keep game and system certifications valid.
Prepare for renewal early
Renewal usually requires updated corporate documents, financial information and evidence that you have met your obligations. If your records are organised throughout the year, renewal becomes a routine task rather than a scramble.
- Updated corporate and ownership documents
- Financial statements and proof of fees paid
- Copies of submitted reports
- Current certificates and audit results
- Evidence that audit findings were resolved
Learn from audits
Treat audit findings as a to-do list. Fix issues promptly, record what you changed and check that the fix works. Regulators look more favourably on operators who resolve findings quickly.
- Log each finding with an owner and a due date.
- Fix the root cause, not just the symptom.
- Test that the fix works and keep the evidence.
- Report closure to management.
Frequently asked questions
What obligations continue after licensing?
Fees, regular reports, AML duties, notifying the regulator of changes and keeping permits and registrations current.
When should we start preparing for renewal?
Well before the deadline. Organised records throughout the year make renewal routine.
How should we handle audit findings?
Assign an owner and due date to each finding, fix the root cause, test the fix and keep evidence.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Gaming rules in the Philippines change, so always confirm current requirements directly with PAGCOR and a qualified Philippine lawyer before you apply or launch.
