The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has played a pivotal role in strengthening the government’s finances during the first eight months of 2025. Specifically, its profit remittances contributed significantly to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) surpassing its non-tax income targets.
Strong Non-Tax Performance
According to the latest BTr cash operations report, total revenue collections from January to August reached PHP3.09 trillion ($52.5 billion), up 3.07% from PHP2.99 trillion ($50.8 billion) in the same period in 2024. While tax revenues remained the primary source, non-tax contributions, including PAGCOR’s remittances, provided a vital boost.
Non-tax revenues totaled PHP298.3 billion ($5.1 billion) by the end of August, already reaching 97.33% of the revised full-year target of PHP306.5 billion ($5.2 billion). Of this, income from BTr operations amounted to PHP189.3 billion ($3.2 billion), or 63.46% of the total.
This achievement exceeded the upward-adjusted target of PHP179.2 billion ($3.05 billion), thanks largely to higher interest earnings on national government deposits, dividend remittances, and profit shares from PAGCOR and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
“The Bureau of the Treasury’s overperformance was driven by increased remittances from state-run corporations such as PAGCOR, which continue to provide vital non-tax income to the government,” the BTr noted.
Gaming Revenues Driving Growth
Earlier this month, PAGCOR reported that online gaming emerged as one of the government’s top revenue drivers in 2025. Licensed operators generated PHP69 billion ($1.17 billion) in license fees from January to July. Of this, PHP41 billion ($697 million) came from electronic games (E-Games), while PHP28 billion ($476 million) originated from other online offerings.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco emphasized that online gaming directly supports nation-building programs. During the first seven months, the sector contributed PHP27.47 billion ($467 million) to key initiatives, including PHP14.72 billion ($250 million) allocated to the Universal Health Care Law. Additional funds have been earmarked for schools, socio-civic centers, wellness facilities, and e-learning hubs.
“Every peso we collect from the gaming sector translates to meaningful projects such as classrooms for children, health programs for our people, and safe spaces for communities in times of calamity,” Tengco said.
Outlook
Overall, PAGCOR’s contributions demonstrate how state-run gaming operations can provide critical non-tax revenue, strengthening government finances while supporting social and infrastructure programs across the Philippines.
