Alejandro H. Tengco said prohibition would encourage illegal operations.
The Philippines.- Alejandro H. Tengco, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), continues to press for stricter regulation for online gaming instead of a ban. He says that prohibition would encourage illegal operations and deprive the government of revenues.
Speaking before industry stakeholders at the Light & Wonder iGaming Symposium at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City on Monday (September 8), Tengco said reforms implemented by PAGCOR, including reductions in license fee rates, have spurred growth in the electronic gaming sector.
Tengco noted that electronic games revenue last year accounted for nearly half of the industry’s gross gaming revenue of PHP372.33bn (US$6.57bn). For this year, the sector has already contributed PHP114.83bn (US$2.02bn), more than land-based operations.
“The igaming story in the Philippines is no longer just about growth; it’s about how we grow — safely, fairly, and sustainably,” Tengco said. “We support stricter regulations to protect our people, but we are against a total ban, which will only drive players to illegal operators and result in loss of revenues and jobs.”
Tengco emphasised PAGCOR’s own reforms, including the separation of regulatory and operational functions, stronger responsible gaming safeguards, stricter advertising standards, the upcoming launch of a 24/7 helpline, and the adoption of digital tools such as the PAGCOR Guarantee portal and AI-driven monitoring systems.
He also called on industry players to practice “compliance by design” in their operations, follow anti-money laundering regulations and strengthen their KYC guidelines.
“With responsible growth, compliance, and transparency, the Philippines can develop a safer, stronger, and globally competitive igaming industry,” he said.
Alejandro H. Tengco said prohibition would encourage illegal operations. The Philippines.- Alejandro H. Tengco, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), continues to press for stricter…
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