There is a poker room in Manila that allows a full table and is licensed by PAGCOR.

To play, you need to have an invite. The lowest blinds are at 25-50 PHP. No barriers in between.

How safe is it?

PAGCOR and IATF

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR, Filipino: Korporasyon sa Libangan at Palaro ng Pilipinas) is a government-owned and controlled corporation established through the Presidential Decree 1869.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID, or simply the IATF) is a task force organized by the executive of the Philippine government to respond to affairs concerning emerging infectious diseases in the Philippines.

Both are the key government agency that needs to approve before any gaming companies can operate right now.

Slowly restrictions have been eased in order to revitalize the economy. but how safe is it?

Abbott Laboratories’ BinaxNOW rapid test

Abbott Laboratories’ BinaxNOW is now being used in one particular poker room in Manila before entering. You need to have a negative test before entering the premises.

But how safe is it?

Last November in 2020. A study evaluated results from 3,419 with both BinaxNOW and the gold-standard PCR method that detects the genetic makeup of the virus in Pima County, Arizona.

The result offers one of the first real-world examinations of how the two approaches stack up against each other.

BinaxNOW, called an antigen test, detected the virus in 64% of those who had symptoms and were positive using the PCR testing approach.

But it identified just 36% of those who didn’t have any clear signs of the virus. Both tests accurately ruled out infections in almost all of those who weren’t carrying the virus.

In another study

They found that BinaxNOW’s performance was significantly better for samples with a positive virus culture, detecting 79% of those without symptoms and 93% of those who were actively ill, “which might reflect better performance for detecting infection in a person with infectious virus present,” according to the CDC study.

The Manila live poker scene.

The truth is, the Manila live poker scene may not return as healthy as before covid-19. It was on March 15, 2020, almost a year ago, when Manila was placed in lockdown. Even now, the Philippines is still in some form of community quarantine.

Within the period, Players have shifted to online and may not come back that easily.

Even with the vaccine, players habit has changed. Convincing players to come back may prove to be difficult.

The sooner the poker room opens the better. but is it safe?

Is it safe?

What the poker room in Manila did may have been a good step. However, since we were not allowed to check the facility. The question comes to mind what other safety measures are in place?

BinaxNow is good at detecting people with symptoms. 93% is a good number. But without symptoms? 

It is like having airport security with an x-ray machine. But having filters in the aircon, cleaning of chips and cards, strict enforcement of facemask and face shield, checking temperature, or creating a bigger table with barriers would be better.

It is like adding, cameras and other security equipment.

In terms of safety, it is no safer than Pokerstars Live Manila in Okada.

Should you play?

The best way to stay safe if you want to play in those rooms is still to make sure you are protecting yourself.

Washing your hand, wearing a safety mask, if there are no barriers wear a face shield.

You must be responsible for yourself. 

We too want to see the live scene open up again. but we must make sure we are protecting oursevles.

Stay safe poker playas!