Philippine gaming operators reported PHP94.51 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the third quarter of 2025, a slight decrease from the PHP94.61 billion recorded during the same period last year, according to data released by the Philippine News Agency.
The e-games segment grew 17%, bringing in PHP41.95 billion compared to PHP35.71 billion in Q3 2024. However, most of this growth came from strong performance in July, before regulators enforced the mandatory delinking of e-wallets from licensed online gaming platforms.
Land-based casino revenue fell 10.2% to PHP45.56 billion. Pagcor-operated casinos experienced an even steeper decline, dropping 11.6% to PHP3.22 billion. Bingo revenue also slipped, falling 16.2% to PHP3.79 billion.
Overall, licensed casinos contributed 48.2% of total GGR, while e-games—including e-bingo, e-casino, sports betting, and online poker—accounted for 44.4%.
First-half surge sparked addiction concerns
During the first half of 2025, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) reported PHP214.75 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR), a 26% increase from the previous year. While revenue from land-based casinos declined by nearly 6%, the e-games sector surged by 82.67% year-on-year.
This rapid rise has raised alarm among anti-gambling advocates, including members of the clergy and several lawmakers. Critics argue that the growth of online gaming fuels addictive behavior, particularly among vulnerable sectors such as youth and low-income individuals. In response, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed Senate Bill 142, the Anti-Online Gambling Act, which seeks to shut down all online gambling platforms and prohibit e-wallets and payment service providers from processing any e-games transactions.
“The taxes earned are not worth the social cost,” Zubiri said.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, echoed these concerns. “As long as online gambling exists, we are breeding the next generation of addicts, debtors, and broken families. No amount of tax revenue can justify this human cost,” he said.
Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco, however, advocated for stronger oversight instead of an outright ban. “As the country’s gaming regulator, our foremost responsibility is to ensure that growth comes with accountability,” he stated. “We are committed to striking a balance between supporting industry expansion and upholding responsible gaming standards.”
E-wallets blocked for gambling
In August, the Philippines Central Bank directed e-wallet providers such as GCash and Maya to immediately remove in-app links that lead users to online gambling platforms. This move led to weaker performance in the e-games sector through September.
Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco acknowledged the impact of the directive. “The delinking resulted in a short-term decline in activity toward the latter part of the quarter,” he said. “However, these measures are essential to protect players and ensure secure, transparent transactions. The numbers reflect an industry adjusting to necessary safeguards.”
Senator Erwin Tulfo praised e-wallet companies for quickly complying with the restrictions. “This shows that the business sector is willing to cooperate with the government to address online gambling addiction,” he said. Still, Tulfo warned that some gambling operators may try to redirect players through other mobile apps such as Viber, Telegram and Lazada.
Tengco urged Filipinos to avoid unlicensed platforms, saying, “These operators do not follow responsible gaming standards, they do not pay taxes and they expose players to risks such as data theft and fraud.”
