E-games lead revenue growth while PAGCOR expands oversight of third-party providers.
The Philippines gaming sector delivered strong results in Q1 2025, with total net income rising 23% year-on-year to PHP4.22 billion, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Revenues for the quarter reached PHP28 billion ($502.9 million), up 11.2% from the previous year and surpassing the government’s target of PHP26.88 billion by over 4%. Gaming operations—including license fees—contributed PHP25.53 billion, accounting for 91% of total earnings. The rest came from business income and service fees.
Notably, electronic games and e-bingo drove over half of the gaming revenue, bringing in PHP14.32 billion or 56%. Licensed and PAGCOR-operated casinos generated PHP11.2 billion, or 44% of the total. At the same time, expenses dropped by 15.5%, from PHP7.36 billion to PHP6.22 billion.
“This solid performance reflects PAGCOR’s commitment to responsible governance and fiscal discipline,” said Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco. He also noted that contributions to nation-building hit PHP18.9 billion, marking a 21.5% increase from last year.
Meanwhile, PAGCOR is pushing forward with regulatory reforms. In a notice dated April 30, Jeremy B. Luglug, Assistant VP of PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department, announced the upcoming Regulatory Framework for Gaming Affiliates and Support Service Providers. This move will require payment processors, marketing firms, KYC providers, and testing labs to undergo direct accreditation.
These changes are part of a wider effort to align the Philippines with global regulatory standards and attract more foreign investment. Following its removal from the FATF grey list, the country has also banned offshore gaming operations and reaffirmed plans to privatize 45 gaming venues by 2026—potentially generating up to PHP50 billion in proceeds.
