Legal Competion

Ahh, competition. It brings out the best in us; it forces us to perform at a higher level than we would absent a competitor.

More than two hundred years ago a man by the name of Adam Smith wrote,

“Rivalship and emulation render excellency, even in mean professions, an object of ambition, and frequently occasion the very greatest exertions.” 

Or if you prefer a shorter, more direct quote from the man:  

“Monopoly…is a great enemy to good management.” 

If it is thus for industries, is it thus for governments?  

It’s no secret that the Philippines is now attracting much attention because of its ability, or more accurately, for a certain corporation’s ability, to hand out gambling licenses to online casinos.

Yet if the monopoly of handing out licenses, which is a government function, is granted to a private entity, should it then be subject to the same competitive conditions as business? When capitalists smell blood in the water, no monopoly goes unchallenged.  

So now, instead of just First Cagayan, which bills itself as “Asia’s First Gaming Jurisdiction,”  there is a southern counterpart called PeJI, for Philippine eGaming Jurisdiction, Inc.

Here’s the writeup from PeJI:

A new eGaming Jurisdiction has emerged from ASIA…

HONESTY, RELIABILITY, INTEGRITY

Welcome to Philippine e-Gaming Jurisdiction Inc. (PeJI)!

WANT INCOME TAX HOLIDAY or AN EXEMPTION FROM CORPORATE INCOME TAX?

The Philippine E-gaming Jurisdiction Inc. (PeJI) is powered by Republic of the Philippines Zamboanga Special Economic Zone (ZSEZ) and has the Master License to regulate and control eGaming and other gaming related activities conducted within and from the Zamboanga Special Economic Zone (ZSEZ).

PEJI receives and processes all applications for and awards eGaming licenses to business operators. It regulates and monitors all activities inside the ZSEZ.

PeJI is engaged in the active pursuit of the development of gaming and e-gaming businesses in the Zamboanga Special Economic Zone (ZSEZ). PeJI encourages participants with its commitment to the delivery of stable EcoZone governance and a strong regulatory environment, supported by an extensive range of attractive business advantages and benefits.

The Philippine E-gaming Jurisdiction Inc. has collaborated with the private sector to ensure that all necessary gambling and e-gaming infrastructure is in place. The Ecozone has world-class Technical Capabilities and Full Service Manpower Assistance to address the needs of the international gambling and e-gaming community.