Philippines regulator doubles down on stricter oversight of iGaming
Summary
Alejandro Tengco, head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), told an industry conference that stricter regulation — not an outright ban — is the way to protect consumers and preserve jobs and revenues in the country’s fast-growing iGaming sector. He warned a ban would push players to illegal operators. Pagcor plans reforms including divesting its casino operations to become a pure regulator, rolling out digital and AI-driven player-monitoring tools, launching a 24/7 problem gambling helpline and encouraging operators to adopt a “compliance by design” approach.
The article notes the scale of the market: 2024 iGaming GGR reached PHP154.51 billion and H1 2025 iGaming revenue outstripped land-based receipts. Legislative moves are underway: a Senate bill would ban digital gambling platforms, while a House bill proposes tougher oversight, new taxes (a proposed 10% iGaming levy), advertising limits, e-wallet and credit-card restrictions and stricter age verification.
Key Points
- Pagcor chief Alejandro Tengco rejects a total iGaming ban, saying it would fuel illegal markets and cost revenue and jobs.
- The Philippines’ iGaming market has surged — PHP154.51 billion GGR in 2024 and strong H1 2025 performance.
- Two competing legislative approaches: a Senate bill to ban online gambling vs a House bill to tighten regulation, tax revenue and restrict ads/payments.
- Pagcor plans to become a pure regulator by divesting casino assets and is developing digital tools and AI for better player monitoring.
- New measures include a 24/7 problem gambling helpline, stronger know-your-customer rules and a push for operator-led “compliance by design.”
- Tengco frames stricter regulation as necessary for safe, fair and sustainable industry growth and global competitiveness.
Context and relevance
The article is important for operators, suppliers, regulators and investors tracking Asia iGaming: the Philippines is a major growth market and legislative decisions there will shape operator strategy, compliance costs and market access. The story ties into wider global trends — regulators balancing rapid online growth with harms prevention, using technology (AI, digital verification) to enforce controls, and debating taxation and advertising limits.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you work in or follow iGaming in Asia, this directly affects market rules, costs and customer access. Tengco’s stance suggests regulators favour tighter control rather than an outright ban — which matters for licences, compliance tech and revenue forecasts. We read the detail so you don’t have to — this is the quick update that tells you what to watch next.
Author style
Punchy. This isn’t just another policy speech — it signals how the Philippines will treat online gambling going forward. If you care about market size, regulatory risk or operational compliance, this is high priority reading: regulatory choices here will ripple across operators, suppliers and payment partners.
