The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has thrown its support behind stricter regulations in the Philippines but opposed a prohibition on online gaming.
Speaking on DZMM Teleradyo, the regulators Chair and CEO, Alejandro Tengco, asserted that “regulation is key” to strengthening his country’s gaming market.
“PAGCOR’s current [stance] is not a total ban, but stricter regulation,” he said.
Tengco endorsed measures proposed by Sherwin Gatchalian which include a ban on using e-wallets to fund online betting, a minimum player age of 21, and, to discourage participation by low-income players, a minimum deposit requirement of PHP10,000 (£129).
On Friday (4 July), Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed the more aggressive ‘Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025’, a bill that seeks to implement an outright ban on online gambling.
Zubiro described gambling addiction in the Philippines as a growing “silent epidemic” and claimed: “For as long as gambling is within reach by almost anyone online, this is a social cancer that will continue to fester.”
The country’s President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr has also failed to rule out the possibility of tax rises on the gambling sector, following suggestions from the Department of Finance that it will propose a new tax rate.
In his interview with DZMM, Tengco emphasised the economic importance of the gaming industry, revealing that in licence fees alone, the sector generated Php 50bn (£649.9m) in 2024.
In Q1 2024, PAGCOR reported revenue of Php 28.07bn, the majority of which was derived from gaming operations, led by electronic games and E-bingo.
Despite this success, Tengco warned of the threat of the black market, explaining that only 45-50% of the market is currently regulated.
PAGCOR has previously issued warnings against offers being made by operators with fake offshore gaming licences, and last month the Philippine Government claimed it shutdown 7000 unlicensed gambling websites.
Uncertainty in Asia
Although Tengco speaks on behalf of the PAGCOR, his position as head of the organisation remains unclear.
In May, Tengco, alongside the PAGCOR board, issued resignations following the directive of President Marcos, who called for the resignations of all government heads of agencies and secretary-ranked officials in the Philippines after disappointing mid-term election performances from his preferred senatorial candidates.
Despite calling for the resignations, a government notice advised affected members to report for work as normal until the President’s office takes action.
Elsewhere in Asia, Thailand’s integrated casino resort bill has been shelved following the political turmoil sparked by a leaked phone call in which the country’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, criticised the Thai army’s actions in its border dispute with Cambodia.
On 8 July, Thailand’s cabinet withdrew the draft law, citing the need for more time to engage with the public and create more understanding surrounding the issue.
Meanwhile, Macau could also be set for an overhaul of its gambling framework, with a particular focus on updating Macau’s advertising framework to meet the needs of a new digital age.
Furthermore, the new framework is set to stop marketing that has a call to action for the gambling sector and material that encourages consumers to engage with gambling activity.
The changes come as part of a wider evaluation of the country’s advertising regulations, off the back of the decision from Yau Yun Wah, Director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau.
