THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Monday urged for stricter regulations on online gambling over a total ban, as the latter would only fuel illicit activities and reduce government earnings.
In a speech, PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said the agency’s reforms, such as lowering license fee rates, have bolstered the local electronic gaming industry.
“The iGaming story in the Philippines is no longer just about growth; it’s about how we grow — safely, fairly, and sustainably,” Mr. Tengco said. “We support stricter regulations to protect our people, but we are against a total ban which will only drive players to illegal operators and result in loss of revenues and jobs.”
According to the gaming regulator, the e-gaming sector injected P114.83 billion into the country’s gross gaming revenues (GGR) in the first half of the year. This exceeded earnings from land-based operations, it added.
GGR from online games last year also grew to P154.51 billion from P58.16 billion in 2023, making up about half of the P372.33-billion total GGR.
Mr. Tengco said PAGCOR has ongoing reforms to promote responsible gaming, such as separating its regulatory and operational roles, enhancing responsible gaming measures, tightening advertising rules, developing a 24/7 helpline and introducing digital solutions such as the PAGCOR Guarantee portal and artificial intelligence-powered monitoring platforms.
He also urged industry stakeholders to adopt “compliance by design” in their operations, strictly observe anti-money laundering policies, reinforce their KYC (Know Your Customer) system and back PAGCOR’s responsible gaming programs.
“With responsible growth, compliance, and transparency, the Philippines can develop a safer, stronger, and globally competitive iGaming industry,” he added.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. earlier ordered tighter regulations for online gambling platforms, citing its negative impact on consumers and the country’s financial system.
Last month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas mandated e-wallet providers, banks and other financial institutions to delink from gambling apps and websites. — Katherine K. Chan
