Philippines Gambling Revenue Plunges 20% to $1.5 Billion in Q2
Philippines gambling revenue experienced a setback in the second quarter of 2026, recording a sharp 20 percent decline compared to the same period last year. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) dropped to US$1.5 billion, marking a notable downturn for the Southeast Asian gaming market.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) reported that the gaming industry generated P88.13 billion during the April to June 2026 period, representing a decline from the P110.63 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025. This contraction reflects broader challenges facing the Philippines gambling sector across multiple revenue streams.
Licensed casinos maintained their position as the dominant revenue contributor, accounting for 51.49 percent of total gross revenue with earnings of P45.37 billion. Electronic gaming followed as the second-largest segment, generating P39.85 billion and representing 45.21 percent of the industry total. Pagcor-operated casinos contributed P2.9 billion, comprising 3.3 percent of quarterly revenues. The electronic gaming category encompasses e-games, e-bingo, bingo, and poker operations.
Pagcor chairperson and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco addressed the revenue shortfall in an official statement, confirming the organization’s dedication to implementing measures aimed at increasing gross gaming revenue and strengthening overall industry performance. The regulatory body faces pressure to stabilize revenues while addressing the various headwinds affecting different gaming segments across the archipelago.
What Factors Triggered the 20 Percent Decline?
Multiple interconnected pressures converged to create the revenue contraction. Payment system disruptions affected online operators significantly, with licensed operators losing embedded wallet access after August 14, 2025. DigiPlus reported a 25% revenue decline in Q1 2026 versus Q1 2025, attributing the reduction primarily to e-wallet delinking and lower transaction volumes. Operating income declined 49% year over year in Q1 2026, illustrating how payment friction can have a disproportionate effect on operating leverage.
Illegal gambling platforms intensified competitive pressures on licensed operations. The illegal gambling market generates around PHP 50 billion annually, posing a significant challenge to licensed operators. Unauthorized platforms avoid formal KYC, tax and responsible-gaming costs while licensed firms must operate within PAGCOR’s documented framework.
Tourism underperformance further weakened casino revenues. The Philippines attracted 5.94 million foreign tourists in 2025 while Indonesia attracted 15.39 million, Vietnam attracted 21.2 million and Thailand attracted almost 33 million. Tourism’s direct gross value added accounted for 8.1% of GDP in 2025, down from 8.7% in 2024.
The POGO ban implemented in 2024 removed a customer segment that previously supported land-based casino operations. Casino performance exhibited a slow trend since the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator ban, with industry sources indicating POGO operators were clients for these establishments.
How Are Industry Stakeholders Responding?
PAGCOR leadership expressed optimism despite the contraction. Tengco remains hopeful that once geopolitical tensions stabilize, consumer confidence and discretionary spending will gradually recover, which should support improved industry performance. However, the regulatory body projects Philippine gross gaming revenue will fall 19% in 2026 to around PHP320 billion (USD 5.20 billion), driven by weaker online gaming activity and ongoing economic pressures.
Consequently, policy debates intensified around industry regulation versus prohibition. Licensed operators warn that over 50,000 jobs could be lost if an outright ban on online gaming proceeds. Tonet Quiogue, CEO of Arden Consult, argued that the real enemy is illegal, unregulated gambling rather than licensed platforms that follow strict safeguards and contribute meaningfully to national development. The legal online gaming industry contributed more than PHP112 billion to the Philippine government in 2024 alone.
Regulatory adjustments followed. PAGCOR and the Ad Standards Council signed a memorandum of understanding on July 16 to regulate all gambling-related advertising. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto proposed a 10% additional tax on the online gaming industry, while Secretary Arsenio Balisacan supported increased taxation including potential levies on e-wallets used for Philippines gambling.
