PAGCOR Opposes Outright Online Gambling Ban. Pushes for Tighter Regulations

Lucas Dunn
By: Lucas Dunn
Jul 09, 2025
World
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Photo by pexels, CC0 1.0

Key Takeaways

  • Tengco argues that online gambling regulation is better than prohibition
  • Online gambling remains a major economic contributor to the Philippines
  • AI-driven monitoring systems and ad restrictions are underway

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has rejected calls for a full prohibition of online gambling. The authority asserts that enhanced regulatory frameworks, rather than outright bans, offer a more viable path to address industry challenges.

PAGCOR Chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco emphasized that prohibition risks fueling societal harm by driving the industry underground. “Regulation is the key and the answer, not a total ban,” he explained. “If you implement a total ban, there will be no control, no regulation, and our fellow Filipinos will be even more disadvantaged.”

Positive Economic Impact

Tengco emphasized online gambling’s substantial economic footprint, churning over PHP100 billion in annual contributions through different channels. The regulator collected PHP50 billion in 2024 in licensing fees alone, while one top operator reportedly paid PHP30-40 billion in taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The sector sustains 32,000 direct jobs and indirectly supports security, logistics, food services, and transportation industries. “There are security guards, drivers, messengers, restaurants, and various transportation companies used by those involved in the online gambling industry,” Tengco pointed out. He cautioned that a total ban could erase these gains, stating that hundreds of billions in revenue could be lost.

Illegal Platforms Amplify Dangers

While defending regulation over prohibition, Tengco acknowledged public concerns about gambling-related social harms. He stressed that unregulated foreign-operated platforms present graver risks than licensed operators.

Right now, we can only capture about 45-50% of the entire online gaming sphere…because there are so many illegal operators that are still operating,” he noted, emphasizing their lack of safeguards like age verification. Unlike these platforms, PAGCOR-regulated services require participants to be 21+ years old.

Player complaints regarding unpaid winnings and vanished deposits have surged, underscoring the threats posed by these rogue entities. “What is really destroying the industry today are the illegal operators coming from other countries who are targeting Filipino customers,” Tengco reiterated.

Enhanced Safeguards

PAGCOR is deploying AI-driven monitoring systems to detect addictive gambling patterns and introduce features like mandatory self-exclusion and automated play suspensions after significant financial loss. Tengco clarified on the function of the cooling-off system, explaining, “If it sees, ‘there are more losers here than winners,’ then that will automatically stop you.”

A round-the-clock gambling addiction hotline and rehabilitation partnerships aim to address addiction cases. Concurrently, advertising reforms target large-scale billboards, which Tengco said “spring up like mushrooms.”

Lucas Michael Dunn is a prolific iGaming content writer with 8+ years of experience dissecting it all, from game and casino reviews to industry news, blogs, and guides. A psychology graduate and painter that transitioned into the iGaming world, his articles depend on proven data and tested insights to educate readers on the best gambling approaches. Beyond iGaming content craftsmanship, Lucas is an avid advocate for responsible play, focusing on empowering players to strike a balance between thrill and informed choices.