Integrated resorts and casinos have become key engines of the Philippines’ tourism and economic recovery, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said on Friday.
Speaking at the Exceed Hospitality 2025 forum at SMX Aura in Taguig City, Tengco said integrated resorts have evolved into ‘dynamic lifestyle and business hubs’ that are reshaping the country’s tourism landscape and opening new avenues for growth.
‘Gaming, entertainment, and hospitality are not separate worlds but interconnected forces that drive growth, create jobs, and enrich the tourism experience’, Tengco told an audience of tourism stakeholders, business leaders, government officials, and members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
Citing industry figures, Tengco said the country’s gaming and entertainment sector continues to show strong momentum, with gross gaming revenues rising 75 percent in two years — from $3.75 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion in 2024.
To sustain this growth, he said PAGCOR is modernizing its regulatory and operational frameworks while ensuring operators comply with principles of responsible, transparent, and sustainable gaming.
The agency has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling, tightened rules on gaming-related advertising, and banned gambling promotions in public spaces and during primetime hours.
‘At PAGCOR, responsible gaming is not just a slogan but a commitment to protect the vulnerable, uphold transparency, and preserve public trust,’ Tengco said.
He urged the gaming, tourism, and hospitality sectors to embrace digital transformation and sustainability — in line with the forum’s theme, ‘Tourism Rewired. Hospitality Transformed.’
‘The future of hospitality is being reshaped by technology and sustainability,’ he said. ‘We must ensure that every guest experience also contributes to local well-being.’
Tengco added that PAGCOR aims to serve not only as a regulator but also as a catalyst for responsible growth.
‘Our collective success depends on finding balance between progress and preservation, profit and purpose,’ he said. ‘Together, we can build destinations that are not only profitable but also meaningful and inspiring.’
