The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has begun implementing a comprehensive gaming education framework aimed at curbing the rise of illegal online gambling by focusing on player education, operator training, and public outreach.
PAGCOR Vice President for Human Resource and Development Group Angelito Domingo said the initiative is designed to address growing social concerns linked to unlawful gambling activity, which have been amplified by the rapid expansion of digital technologies.
Speaking at a regulators’ forum earlier this month, Domingo stressed that the framework seeks to foster collaboration among regulators, operators, law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, and local communities.
“There are three forces – technology as the tool, the criminal divide as the motive, and social impact as the public outcry – that create a perfect storm which threatens the integrity of the legal gaming industry,” Domingo said.
He emphasized that player education is central to the framework, with efforts focused on promoting responsible play and raising awareness of gambling’s financial and psychological risks. “A lot of people are not aware of the financial implications when they engage in gambling. They only realize the impact when it’s too late. They could have done better by being educated at the onset,” he noted.
Operator training, meanwhile, will include mandatory certification programs to ensure frontline staff are equipped to identify and respond to problem gambling behaviors. Public outreach will rely on unified campaigns and active collaboration with stakeholders, including NGOs and financial regulators.
Domingo also pointed out that the exponential growth of online gaming in the Philippines is being fueled by the accessibility of technology and the population’s heavy reliance on mobile devices. While this growth has expanded opportunities for the regulated industry, it has also created vulnerabilities that illegal operators can exploit.
The initiative comes as the Philippine gaming industry experiences rapid growth. PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco recently projected that the country’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) will reach $7 billion in 2025. Industry GGR has nearly doubled over the past two years, rising from $3.75 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion in 2024.
In the first half of 2025 alone, revenues have already reached $3.8 billion, putting the sector on track to meet its full-year target. PAGCOR’s own revenues in the first half hit $1 billion, reflecting the continued strength of the Philippine gaming market.
