Philippine GGR (gross gaming revenue) is expected to reach a new record this year. PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco shared this projection. It is the regulator of the country.
At a briefing at the agency’s office, PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco shared his GGR forecast for the Philippine gaming sector. He expects GGR to reach between PHP 450 billion (US $7.77 billion) and PHP 480 billion this year. This includes non-casino operations. The 2025 target is based on January’s estimated PHP 40 billion GGR. This marks a sharp rise from PHP 28.5 billion a year earlier. Tengco highlighted that this strong start signals continued growth for the sector.
He believes the electronic games sector will be the key driver of GGR growth in 2025. Tengco expects e-Games to continue their positive trend from January and February. He attributes this growth to increased player engagement and improved gaming offerings. While land-based casino GGR is also projected to grow, it will not see as sharp an increase as e-Games. He predicts that in two to three years, e-Games could generate as much GGR as land-based casinos. This would mark a major shift in the industry.
Last year, the Philippine gaming sector reached a record PHP 410.48 billion in GGR. This marked a 24.8% year-on-year increase, according to preliminary data. Land-based casinos remained the top contributors at 49% of total GGR, while e-Games followed at 38%. The e-Games sector saw a remarkable 309.2% surge, reaching PHP 135.7 billion. Meanwhile, licensed casino GGR declined by 2.7% to PHP 201.8 billion.
To support industry growth, PAGCOR reduced remittance rates for online and on-site betting platforms in January. The regulator lowered the fee from 35% to 30%, aiming to enhance market competitiveness and attract more operators. PAGCOR sees this adjustment as a strategic move to sustain momentum in the rapidly evolving gaming sector.
