Philippines regulator’s H1 revenue shows e-games still rule, growing almost 90%
Summary
PAGCOR reported gross gaming revenue of PHP214.75 billion for H1 2025, up 26% year-on-year. Online gambling (e-games) accounted for more than half of that total, generating PHP114.83 billion — an 82.67% jump — while land-based casinos fell to PHP93.36 billion (down 5.85%).
Punchy take: e-games are now the engine of the Philippine gaming market, driving big tax transfers to the state but also fuelling growing political and social backlash.
Source
Key Points
- • PAGCOR H1 2025 GGR: PHP214.75 billion (c. $3.72bn), +26% year-on-year.
- • E-games produced PHP114.83 billion, up 82.67% and contributing more than half of total GGR.
- • Land-based casinos brought in PHP93.36 billion, a 5.85% decline versus 2024.
- • PAGCOR channelled PHP38.1 billion to nation-building (up 20%), including PHP25.36 billion to the National Treasury.
- • Political pushback: Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed Senate Bill 142 to ban iGaming aimed at Filipino users; the bill would force ISPs, platforms and payment providers to block access within 72 hours.
- • Regulatory alternatives: House Bill 1351 proposes a 10% tax on e-games, restrictions on ads and payment methods, and measures to curb underage and risky play.
- • PAGCOR actions: the regulator favours stricter oversight over an outright ban, signed an agreement with the Ad Standards Council to pre-screen gambling ads and ordered removal of gambling ads from public spaces and primetime TV by 15 August.
Why should I read this?
Quick and dirty: if you follow gambling markets, payments or regulation in Asia, this matters. E-games are now the dominant revenue stream in the Philippines — that brings big government receipts, new policy fights and potential shocks for operators if restrictions or bans land. We’ve skimmed the detail so you can see the numbers, the political heat and the likely policy moves without having to wade through the whole release.
Context and relevance
The surge in online gambling revenue highlights wider industry trends: migration of players to 24/7 digital channels, concentration of earnings in iGaming, and the tension between fiscal benefits and social harms. Policymakers are responding with proposals ranging from higher taxes and advertising curbs to outright bans. For operators, investors and regulators, the next policy decisions in the Philippines will be a bellwether for how markets balance economic benefit against public-protection concerns.