Rather than celebrating the success of its online casino and betting market, the iGaming sector in the Philippines is under scrutiny. We examine whether the concerns that are raised are valid or ill-informed.
Online casino entertainment in the Philippines is at the centre of some controversy at the moment. Despite being well managed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which has seen online gambling continue to grow, there is tension in the country about whether it is doing too well.
In its 2025 sector review, PAGCOR shared data on both offline and online gambling markets. According to the report, the overall market declined by 5.09% based on land-based gambling, showing a more than 22% decline. To make things worse, this market no longer includes revenues from offshore-operated POGOs.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Mr Alejandro H. Tengco said:
“The decline in revenues from land-based casinos is largely driven by the gradual change in player behaviour, with more customers opting for digital and online gaming platforms.”
It was only the ongoing success of the regions' licensed online casino operators that saved the massive decline from being catastrophic. Php53.33 billion of the gambling sector's total income of Php95.15 billion, so over 50%, came from iGaming, which includes online casino games (like progressive jackpot slots and crash games) and online bingo.
Tengco commented on this split, saying:
“The decline in revenues from land-based casinos is largely driven by the gradual change in player behavior, with more customers opting for digital and online gaming platforms.”
He added that it also highlighted the need for regulators who deal in split markets to ensure that they stayed on top of the latest online gambling tools and behaviours.
Despite the reality that online gambling would continue unabated without licensing, resulting in money bleeding to illegal offshore operations, there are those in the Philippines who are calling for real money casino licenses to be revoked and the industry to be banned.
The charge is being led by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who filed the Anti-Online Gambling Act (SB 142) in the hopes of ending what he called the "silent epidemic". Local religious organisations and even some lawmakers are asking for enquiries into the impact of online gambling on the youth, compulsive behaviours, and debt levels.
Alejandro Tengco has spoken out against a total ban, citing that PAGCOR has banned more than 50,000 illegal gambling sites and is working on tools to support market channelisation in favour of licensed sites that are compliant with local laws and player safety requirements.
Tengco said:
“As digital gaming continues to grow, PAGCOR has implemented significant regulatory upgrades to protect players, promote transparency, and ensure that online gaming operates within a secure and well-regulated environment,”
He has also proposed restrictions on in-country advertising on above-the-line channels, such as television and radio. Noting that with the proven local penchant for gambling, suddenly removing all safe havens would see predatory sites flooded with local traffic as they promise enticing welcome bonuses and other incentives.
This would remove much-needed revenues, as PAGCOR uses gambling funds to support many local welfare, education and sporting programs, and strip players of the protections the gambling bill provides.
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