PAGCOR advances decoupling plans as gaming revenues head for record year

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco reiterated the agency's plans to decouple its commercial operations from its regulatory functions at the Inside Asian Gaming Summit at Newport World Resorts. The executive also offered insights into revenue projections, with the Philippines' gambling market on track for a new record year.

Electronic gaming has emerged as a significant driver of revenue growth in the Philippines, Tengco said, playing a key role in the $3.8 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) recorded in the first half of 2025.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation reported that total industry GGR rose from $3.75 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion in 2024. Tengco said the first-half 2025 results put the sector on track to reach its $7 billion full-year target. PAGCOR’s own revenues for January to June reached $1 billion.

“These numbers affirm the Philippines’ place as one of the fastest-growing and most important gaming markets in Asia,” Tengco said.

Oversight and player protection

According to Tengco, the rapid growth of online and electronic gaming requires stricter oversight. “The unprecedented and exponential growth of online gaming truly comes with success and revenues, but for us, our responsibility is to ensure that this sector’s growth comes not just with profit but with accountability, integrity, and player protection,” he said.

Measures recently introduced by PAGCOR include the PAGCOR Guarantee Page, which allows the public to verify licensed platforms; self-exclusion and betting limit tools; and a 24/7 helpline operated with the Seagulls Flock Foundation.

The agency has also banned credit card and cryptocurrency use for wagering, set tighter rules on gambling advertising with the Ad Standards Council, and increased collaboration with law enforcement and cybercrime units to address illegal online activity.

Tengco pointed to the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list earlier in 2025 as a milestone for the industry. He said the decision supported investor confidence and validated compliance efforts against money laundering and financial crimes.

Regulatory reform plans

Alongside revenue reporting, Tengco reiterated PAGCOR’s plan to separate its operational and regulatory roles. “PAGCOR’s dual role has served its purpose in the past but as the industry matured, it became clear that — in layman’s terms — a referee cannot also be a player on the same field,” he said.

The proposal requires approval from the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, which is reviewing documentation, and would also need legislative changes. PAGCOR operates under Presidential Decree 1869 and Republic Act 9487.