The gaming industry in the Philippines generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of PHP214.75 billion (US$3.75 billion) in the first half of 2025, up 25.6 percent year-on-year, said the country’s regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), in a Tuesday press release. The growth was triggered by online gaming, as land-based casino GGR posted a year-on-year decline.
Pagcor said that the electronic games sector – “composed of e-games, e-bingo, and bingo grantees” – produced GGR of PHP114.83 billion, accounting for almost 53.5 percent of total GGR.
The figure was up 82.6 percent year-on-year, according to data compiled by GGRAsia.
Licensed land-based casinos, comprising integrated resorts and bricks-and-mortar properties in Metro Manila, Clark, Cebu, La Union and Rizal, contributed PHP93.36 billion – or 43.5 percent of industry GGR – during the first six months of 2025. That was a decline of 5.9 percent from a year earlier.
Part of the data had already been disclosed last week in a speech by Alejandro Tengco, chairman and chief executive of Pagcor.
Pagcor-operated casinos contributed PHP6.56 billion during the latest reporting period, representing just under 3.1 percent of the overall industry GGR performance for the period, and a year-on-year decline of 26.3 percent.
Tuesday’s release quoted Mr Tengco as saying: “Pagcor recognises the earning potential of the e-games sector, but as the country’s gaming regulator, our foremost responsibility is to ensure that growth comes with accountability.”
He added: “Our role goes beyond revenue generation, and as partners of the government in nation-building, we are committed to always striking a balance between enabling industry expansion and ensuring it aligns with responsible gaming standards.”
According to recent media reports, the country’s government might introduce stricter policies regarding access to digital gambling platforms, as well as a possible tax move by national authorities.
In a state-of-the-nation address on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said nothing on the issue of whether to ban domestic online gambling, though he has already pledged to consider it.
