The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has indicated that gross gaming revenue (GGR) dipped in the third quarter, but the agency insists it will maintain its course toward tighter safeguards and enhanced transparency across the country’s E-Games and E-Bingo sector.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said operators are undergoing a difficult but necessary transition as the regulator pushes for higher industry standards. This is according to press releases sent on Thursday.
Speaking at a gathering of the Association of Independent Licensed Gaming and Amusement Operators, Inc. (AILGAO) in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, Tengco stressed that new reforms—including the mandatory de-linking of e-wallets from online gambling platforms—are intended to reinforce industry credibility and protect vulnerable players.
“The country’s E-Games and E-Bingo operators are navigating a difficult but necessary transition toward stricter safeguards and more transparent operations that help shape a more responsible industry,” indicated the official.
Tengco acknowledged the immediate pressures facing licensees. He noted that “the mandatory de-linking of e-wallets from online gaming platforms” had triggered declines in August and September, even as the broader E-Games and E-Bingo segment still recorded 17.4 percent year-on-year growth in the third quarter. “You may be interested to know that in the third quarter of 2025, we recorded an industry GGR that was a bit lower than last year,” he said. “But this reflects an industry transitioning to stronger and safer practices.”
The remarks come amid mounting evidence that regulatory tightening has begun to weigh on sector performance. In mid-September, PAGCOR reported a 40 to 50 percent drop in income after major e-wallet providers removed payment links to online gambling platforms, following a directive from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Industry-wide data also shows a pronounced impact on leading operators. DigiPlus Interactive, the Philippines’ largest online gaming platform and operator of BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, recently posted a 59 percent decline in third-quarter net income to PHP1.71 billion ($29.1 million).
Despite the downturn, Tengco urged operators to view the reforms as long-term safeguards rather than barriers. “We know that many of you were affected by this sudden development,” he said. “However, we must not look at these reforms as obstacles but as safeguards designed to protect your players, your businesses, and the entire ecosystem you operate in.”
He also warned that illegal operators continue to expand aggressively, exposing players to fraud while damaging the reputation of compliant companies. “They expose players to financial fraud and data theft,” he said. “But the worst part is, they damage the reputation of the entire industry, including the legitimate ones.”
During the event, AILGAO presented Tengco with a “Gaming Exemplary Leadership Award,” and AILGAO President Rafael Tabora expressed full support for the regulatory direction. “We welcome these reforms because they strengthen the legitimacy of our operations and create a safer environment for our players,” he said.
