More than 60% of online gambling illegal
During a budget briefing on August 21, 2025, PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco revealed that over 60% of online gambling operations in the Philippines are illegal, meaning that less than 40% are licensed and compliant. Many of these illegal platforms are hosted overseas, including in countries like Russia, Cambodia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore, but target Filipino bettors with large bonuses and lax age restrictions .
Efforts to curb these illicit operations involve coordination with agencies like the DICT, CICC, NBI, and PNP, but enforcement remains challenging .
Tengco also addressed gambling addiction, noting that PAGCOR’s “Responsible Gaming Group” collaborates with rehabilitation centers such as Seagulls Flock. In the past three years, seven cases were referred for help. Additionally, nearly 2,000 gamblers have opted into a self-exclusion program for at least one year. PAGCOR is exploring AI tools to better monitor player behavior and detect potential problem gambling .
From a financial standpoint, PAGCOR reported that online gaming now constitutes a major revenue stream. In 2024, the gaming industry generated P112 billion, with P50 billion coming from online operations—accounting for 62% of total revenues. As of mid-2025, online gaming revenues have grown 32% year-on-year, with projections of P65–70 billion by year-end (around 60–62% of total revenues) .
Currently, PAGCOR has 72 licensed online gaming operators, but no new ones have been added since the moratorium in March 2024 (though pending applications filed before that date are still being processed) .
Finally, Tengco noted that online gaming transactions dropped by about 50% following the Central Bank’s directive to e-wallet providers to decouple from online gambling sites. PAGCOR continues to work with the BSP to tighten controls on these payment platforms .
