Philippine gaming revenues flat at $1.6 billion in Q3 2025

The Philippine gaming industry posted ₱94.51 billion (US$1.60 billion) in gross gaming revenues (GGR) in the third quarter of 2025, down slightly from ₱94.61 billion a year ago, as new regulations and tighter digital payment rules took effect.

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Electronic Games (E-Games) segment remained the industry’s top performer, posting a 17.4% year-on-year increase to ₱41.95 billion (US$709.2 million) from ₱35.71 billion (US$603.8 million) in the same period of 2024.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco attributed the growth largely to strong performance in July 2025, before revenues slowed in August and September following the mandatory delinking of e-wallets from gaming platforms. “The figures reflect an industry that is adjusting to necessary safeguards,” he said.

“The delinking of e-wallets resulted in a short-term decline in activity toward the latter part of the quarter,” Tengco added. “However, these measures are vital to protect players and ensure secure, transparent transactions.”

However, illegal online gaming continues to expand, he warned, posing risks to players.

“These unauthorized platforms do not follow responsible gaming standards, do not pay taxes, and put players at risk of data theft and fraud,” Tengco said. “We urge the public to avoid illegal sites and to engage only with PAGCOR-licensed platforms.”

Outside the E-Games sector, other gaming segments registered declines during the quarter. PAGCOR-operated casinos saw revenues drop 11.6% to ₱3.22 billion (US$54.4 million) from ₱3.64 billion (US$61.5 million), while licensed casinos slipped 10.2% to ₱45.56 billion (US$770.4 million) from ₱50.72 billion (US$857.5 million). Bingo operations also fell 16.2% to ₱3.79 billion (US$64.1 million) from ₱4.52 billion (US$76.4 million).

In terms of contribution to total GGR, licensed casinos accounted for 48.2%, followed by E-Games at 44.4%, bingo at 4%, and PAGCOR-operated venues at 3.4%.

Despite the slowdown, Tengco expressed optimism about the sector’s outlook, saying the industry is expected to regain momentum as players adapt to new e-wallet protocols and regulators intensify their crackdown on illegal gambling portals.

In 2025, land-based casinos struggled as VIP gaming declined, influenced by the ban on offshore gaming operators (POGOs), along with fewer visitors from major tourism markets like South Korea and China.