The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) aims to launch its own e-gambling operations next year, its chairman Alejandro Tengco said on July 20, 2023, speaking at the SiGMA Asia gaming conference1. Pagcor is both a gaming regulator and an operator, and sits directly under the office of the Philippine president1.
Pagcor took in 16 billion pesos ($293 million) last year from the 41 physical casinos it operates, part of the Philippine gambling industry's gross gaming revenues of 214 billion pesos ($3.9 billion)1. Tengco framed online gambling as a way to reach beyond its existing customers:
"Online gaming offers an opportunity to tap into new markets and diversify its customer base"
The regulator's move follows its 2020 decision to allow integrated casino-resorts in the Philippines to take online bets, a step taken to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic1. Reuters reported that the global online gambling market was valued at $63.53 billion in 2022 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7% from 2023 to 2030, citing a study by consulting firm Grand View Research1. The report did not say how much revenue Pagcor expects from its own online operations, what games or platforms it would offer, or how the operations would be licensed or regulated. Those details have not been reported1.
Gambling is legal in the Philippines1. Reuters reported there are 32 offshore gaming companies legally operating in the country, catering mostly to Chinese clients1. Manila's gambling scene includes a smaller version of the Las Vegas gaming strip, home to integrated casino resorts operated by companies including Japan's Universal Entertainment Corp and Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, and attracts high rollers from countries such as China, Japan and South Korea1. Reuters gave the exchange rate as $1 = 54.46 Philippine pesos1.
What it means for players
Pagcor is currently the body that regulates gambling in the Philippines and also runs casinos. If it launches its own online operations, the same agency would be both an operator and the regulator of the market, a dual role it already holds for land-based casinos1. For players in the Philippines, that means the country's legal online offering could expand beyond the integrated casino-resorts that have been allowed to take online bets since 20201. The announcement does not change the legal status of offshore sites, and no new rules for players were reported1. Details on which platforms would be legal, what taxes would apply to winnings, or how disputes would be handled were not included in the announcement1. Players looking at how the Philippines treats online play can read our guide to online casinos in the Philippines and our wider guide to gambling in the Philippines. For how the country compares with its neighbors, see Online Gambling in Asia: The Law for Players in 12 Jurisdictions.
What happens next
Pagcor intends to launch the e-gambling operations in 2024, according to Tengco1. No specific launch date, budget, platform partner or licensing framework was reported1.
