Online licenses welcome for casinos, but conditions limit appeal
Entertainment City generic

Gross gambling revenue in the Philippines was up 52 percent year-on-year in 3Q21, and improved sequentially, with nearly all segments of the industry showing growth.

According to figures released by the Philippines Amusement & Gaming Corp (PAGCOR), total industry GGR in the quarter was P26.94 billion ($538 million), up from P17.6 billion a year earlier and higher than the P20.8 billion recorded in the prior quarter.

Revenue from licensed casinos was P21.7 billion in the quarter, higher than the P16.9 billion recorded in 2Q21. Entertainment City casinos saw their GGR rise 49 percent from a year earlier to P19.36 billion, also higher than the P14.6 billion in the prior quarter.

Casinos in the Metro Manila area had been operating on a limited capacity, invite-only basis up until August 5, when the city went into lockdown as Covid cases rose. Restrictions have been lifted since Sept. and the resorts have been able to take leisure hotel guests from the beginning of this month. 

PAGCOR figures also showed that eSabong had generated P1.21 billion in the quarter. Online gambling on cockfighting, which is highly popular in the Philippines, only began in May this year. 

Revenue from electronic gaming more than doubled to P613 million, while bingo was slightly higher at P1.65 billion. 

On a cumulative basis, GGR in the Philippines stood at P77.84 billion.