Alejandro H. Tengco spoke at the Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) Summit 2025.
The Philippines.- Speaking at the Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) Summit 2025, Alejandro H. Tengco, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), has reiterated the agency’s plans to decouple its commercial operations from its regulatory functions.
“PAGCOR’s dual role has served its purpose in the past, but as the industry matured, it became clear that – in layman’s terms – a referee cannot also be a player on the same field,” Tengo said.
The plan requires legal consideration as PAGCOR is governed by Presidential Decree 1869 and Republic Act 9487. PAGCOR must first obtain the approval of the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG), which is reviewing documents.
Tengco said Casino Filipino employees would be redeployed, absorbed by private operators, or granted competitive retirement benefits once the planned privatisation of PAGCOR’s gaming operations takes place.
During his speech, Tengco noted that industry GGR climbed from US$3.75bn in 2022 to US$6.5bn in 2024, while in the first half of this year, GGR reached US$3.8bn, putting the sector on track to achieve a US$7bn full-year target. PAGCOR’s own revenues in the first semester reached US$1bn.
“These numbers affirm the Philippines’ place as one of the fastest-growing and most important gaming markets in Asia,” Tengco said, emphasising that reforms have been made to make sure that growth is both sustainable and responsible.
Tengco highlighted measures such as the launch of the PAGCOR Guarantee Page to verify licensed platforms, responsible gaming tools such as self-exclusion and betting limits, and a 24/7 helpline set up with the Seagulls Flock Foundation.
PAGCOR has also banned the use of credit cards and cryptocurrencies for betting, tightened rules on gambling advertisements in partnership with the Ad Standards Council, and expanded coordination with law enforcement and cybercrime agencies to address illegal online gambling.
Tengco also noted the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list earlier this year was a milestone that strengthened investor confidence and validated compliance efforts against money laundering and financial crimes.
Tengco has been pressing for stricter regulation for online gaming amid calls for a ban. He argues that prohibition would encourage illegal operations and deprive the government of revenues.
Alejandro H. Tengco spoke at the Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) Summit 2025. The Philippines.- Speaking at the Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) Summit 2025, Alejandro H. Tengco, chairman and CEO of…
Participe da IGI Expo 2026: https://igi-expo.com/
O iGaming & Gaming International Expo - IGI, é um evento inovador criado para reunir empresas e empreendedores, profissionais, investidores, dos setores de iGaming e jogos. Com foco total em networking, exposição e feira de negócios. Além de ser uma fonte inigualável de informações sobre as tendências e o futuro das indústrias nos próximos anos.
📢 Receba em primeira mão notícias relevantes e fique por dentro dos principais assuntos sobre Igaming e Esportes no Brasil e o mundo. Siga no Whatsapp!
...
