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The Philippines’ Gaming Economy: A Gateway to Online Casinos 

  • PRG

The Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, Alejandro Tengco, told reporters in early 2025 that gross gaming revenues could range between 450 billion and 480 billion PHP for the year, but the official figure is yet to be confirmed. This means more than 17% increase in comparison to last year, which was also a record-high for the Philippine gaming economy. This article will explain how this is possible and what are the factors that play the main role in it. 

Shortly put, it comes to a perfect synergy between the country’s clear regulatory framework, skilled workforce, and advanced digital infrastructure – the three main prerequisites for online casinos to thrive. Secondly, the Philippines has become increasingly appealing to offshore casino sites, which operate legally in the country and attract new players by offering all kinds of generous welcome bonuses. You can learn more about the first deposit bonuses by claiming one and trying to play your favorite games with it. 

The Role of the Philippine Main Regulator, PAGCOR 

The Philippines has a regulated gaming environment since 1977, when PAGCOR was established. This is a key reason behind the country’s success in this sector nowadays. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, also known as PAGCOR, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of casinos. 

International casino sites are also regulated and licensed, but this time under the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) framework. It is a framework that allows online casinos established in other countries to operate in the Philippines. The impact of a regulated gambling system is significant. For instance, in 2019 alone, POGOs contributed over 7 billion PHP in licensing fees and taxes. 

However, at the end of 2025, all POGOs have been banned and declared illegal by the Philippine government. This means that the regulations have significantly tightened in recent years, and the role of the main regulator, PAGCOR, is even more important. In fact, this shift towards stricter regulation of domestic casinos has raised concerns over compliance, taxation, and social impact. Some gambling companies have relocated to become Philippine-based and to be allowed to operate legally in the country.  

The Technology and Infrastructure Factors 

The Philippines has already demonstrated its ability to support large-scale online casino operations, and much of it is thanks to the numerous technological leaps and the impeccable infrastructure that remain in place. Here are more details about the main contributing factors: 

  • Benefits of the big cities: without a doubt, the tech sector is certainly more developed in the big urban areas. That’s why major cities like Manila, Cebu, and Metro Clark have transformed into gaming business hubs. 
  • Time zone advantages: The casino sites in the Philippines offer customer service with operating hours that align well with both Asian and European markets. Actually, most of the top Filipino casinos offer 24/7 customer support and game streaming services. 
  • Lower operating costs: compared to Europe or North America, the Philippine-based casino sites allow lower table limits and more customized betting options. The costs of operating casino sites are lower, and the tax system is not as overwhelming as in many other countries. 
  • Improving internet infrastructure: recently, the Philippines has increased its efforts in improving access to the internet, not only in the big cities but also in smaller rural areas. For instance, fixed and mobile speeds increased more than twice from 2022 to 2024, and the number of communication towers also nearly doubled between 2020 and 2023. Mobile broadband penetration also increased during this time, and one can see noticeable government investments in internet networks for rural areas. 
  • Live casino streaming: this is a special area of interest for many Filipino-based operators. Live Baccarat and the similar Live Dragon Tiger game are preferred by domestic players; hence, these games are heavily featured in the portfolios of the live game developers based in the country. Also, more Filipinos prefer live dealer games over their Asian-focused RNG formats. 
  • Mobile payment systems: there are several Filipino-optimized cashless payment methods for online gaming. GCash and Maya can be used as substitutes for Neteller and Skrill. Cryptocurrencies and innovative methods are also legalized in the Philippines and are accepted by many online casino operators. This factor wouldn’t be as important without the high rate of mobile penetration in the country. 

Offshore Casino Sites and Their Impact on the Philippine Gaming Industry 

The Philippines has made significant efforts in local regulation and infrastructure, and its role as a provider of offshore casino services continues to grow. This offshore model positioned the country as a powerhouse for international casino operations, rather than just a consumer market. Many customer services, IT services, software development, marketing, international payments, and live games originate from the Philippines. 

The economic impact is huge. It can be measured by the contribution of each factor and by feedback from the industry. For instance, salaries in international iGaming-related roles are often higher than national averages. Also, the domestic online casino sector has been especially attractive due to the high percentage of English-speaking workforce in the country. In fact, the Philippines consistently ranks among the top nations for English proficiency in Asia.  

Conclusion: The Future of the Philippine Gaming Economy 

The Philippines’ constantly growing economy is likely to continue influencing online casinos, be it via fast mobile networks or cashless payment systems, and regardless of the framework they operate in. It is nice that the regulated domestic online gambling businesses will have so many more opportunities to thrive, in comparison to just about a decade ago. So, it is safe to say that, looking ahead, the country will certainly play a major role as a gateway to online casinos. 

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