Land-based casinos generated P49.48 billion in revenue, slightly down from P51.7 billion last year. Pagcor’s Casino Filipino operations contributed P4.2 billion, a 14.7% drop from the same period in 2023, while bingo revenue fell to P4.69 billion from last year's P5.85 billion.
Egames up more than 500%
The electronic gaming sector was the standout performer, growing by an impressive 525% over the past year, reaching nearly P31 billion.
Pagcor chief Alejandro Tengco highlighted that the sector “continues to surpass targets” and could help offset “any shortfall resulting from the president’s order banning offshore gaming operations.”
Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), ordering the industry to cease operations immediately and fully wind down by the end of 2024.
Impacts of POGO ban
POGOs, which were first introduced in 2016, have been repeatedly linked to online scams, human trafficking, money laundering, and murder. The ban will result in a loss of P20 billion in annual revenue. However, critics argue that the cost of monitoring the crime-ridden industry nearly matched the revenue it generated.
The shutdown is expected to leave up to 30,000 Filipinos unemployed and severely impact the real estate rental market.
Blood and money: E-sabong for revenue?
Several lawmakers ignited controversy by suggesting the government could generate additional revenue by regulating e-sabong, or online cockfighting.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon Representative David Suarez argued that cockfighting, including e-sabong, could be a significant source of income for the government. “How can we properly regulate this in a way that allows the government to earn income?” he questioned.
During a Pagcor budget meeting, Representative Marissa Magsino supported the proposal, stating that e-sabong is “happening everywhere” and arguing, “It’s better to just make it legal rather than keep it illegal and not gain anything from it.”
The Philippine Inquirer sharply criticized the idea, labeling it as “outrageous.” The publication recalled the 2021 disappearance of over 30 “sabungeros” (cockfight organizers) who reportedly had conflicts with industry leaders. In 2022, then-President Rodrigo Duterte banned the blood sport, and the missing individuals were never found.
The editors warned that reinstating legal e-sabong would be “a terrifying reminder of our politicians’ short memories,” suggesting it would replace one crime-laden platform with another that is “intrinsically linked to human trafficking, torture, and scams.”
