Latest news with #Tengco
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
PH gaming industry grows 26% to P214.75B in H1 2025 — PAGCOR
The country's gaming industry saw a double-digit growth in terms of total revenues, reaching over P200 billion in the first half of 2025, thanks to continued popularity of online or digital betting among Filipinos. Data released by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) showed the sector's gross gaming revenues (GGR) stood at P214.75 billion from January to June 2025, up 26% from P171 billion year-on-year. This as the electronic gaming sector — composed of e-games, e-bingo, and bingo grantees – continued to outpace traditional or brick-and-mortar gaming with P114.83 billion in gross revenues or 53.47% of total GGR. Meanwhile, licensed casinos — comprised of integrated resorts and brick-and-mortar casinos in Metro Manila, Clark, Cebu, La Union and Rizal — accounted for 43.47% or P93.36 billion of the industry's GGR. PAGCOR-operated casinos, moreover, contributed the remaining 3.06% or P6.56 billion to the overall industry performance. 'PAGCOR recognizes the earning potential of the e-games sector, but as the country's gaming regulator, our foremost responsibility is to ensure that growth comes with accountability,' said PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco. 'Our role goes beyond revenue generation; and as partners of the government in nation-building, we are committed to always strike a balance between enabling industry expansion and ensuring it aligns with responsible gaming standards,' added Tengco. The PAGCOR chief noted that the gaming industry regulator recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) to strengthen the monitoring of gambling-related advertisements across all platforms. It also recently ordered the takedown of all gambling ads in public spaces and primetime TV by August 15 this year. 'These efforts are part of our broader mission to ensure that online gambling is not only well-regulated but also aligned with public interest,' said Tengco. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
PAGCOR: Casinos' gross gaming revenue hits P93.36 billion in H1 2025
'Of the P93.36 billion generated by the integrated resort casinos, P16 billion was paid to PAGCOR as license fees, ensuring funding for government social services and driving the country's economic growth,' PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengo said in his remarks at the Philippine Hotel Connect 2025 on Thursday. Integrated resort-casinos in the country have generated nearly a hundred billion pesos in gross gaming revenues (GGR) in the first half of 2025, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). 'Of the P93.36 billion generated by the integrated resort casinos, P16 billion was paid to PAGCOR as license fees, ensuring funding for government social services and driving the country's economic growth,' PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengo said in his remarks at the Philippine Hotel Connect 2025 on Thursday. Tengco said the resort-casinos accounted for nearly half of the local gaming industry's total GGR of P215 billion from January to June 2025. The PAGCOR chief said that aside from contributing to government revenues, integrated resort casinos also helped position the Philippines as a competitive tourism destination. 'We have seen time and again how a thriving hospitality sector can drive employment, fuel trade, revive local enterprises, and bridge communities. 'And nowhere is this more evident than in the huge tourism contributions from our licensed integrated resort casinos within and outside Metro Manila,' Tengco said. The PAGCOR chief, however, emphasized the need to impose safeguards in the gaming sector through effective regulation and responsible gaming practices. Tengco cited a recent move to remove gambling advertisements from areas frequented by minors and its memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council to implement stricter gaming advertising guidelines. 'As the gaming industry expands, so must our safeguards,' he said. 'Hence, we have taken a firm stance against the proliferation of illegal and unregulated gaming operations that offer no safety nets or protection to players and, more importantly, no remittance or any form of revenue to the government,' he added. The PAGCOR chief called for continued collaboration between the government and the private sector to maintain the momentum of tourism recovery and long-term economic gains. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
P50B license fees collected from 70 legal online gambling platforms in 2024 –PAGCOR
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation was able to gather P50 billion in license fees from up to 70 legal online gambling platforms in 2024. In a Balitanghali interview on Tuesday, PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said that 50% of the fees were immediately remitted to the National Treasury. The remainder of the fees were used to subsidize other agencies such as PhilHealth, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Dangerous Drugs Board. 'Ang na-contribute po ng online gaming alone sa PhilHealth ay mayroon pong kulang P6.5 billion. So kung ating titignan, sa 30,000 average, can you imagine ilang milyon 'yung ating natulungan sa pamamagitan ng online gaming sa pasyente ng PhilHealth?' said Tengco. (Online gaming alone has contributed almost P6.5 billion to PhilHealth. If you can see, out of the 30,000 average, can you imagine how many million more PhilHealth patients can we help through online gaming?) Tengco said there were hundreds of illegal online gambling platforms operating from outside the country and targeting Filipinos, which was destroying the online gaming industry. 'Ang masakit nito, they are operating from outside the Philippines. Ang tinatarget nila ay mga Filipino customers… Ang masakit po, 'yan ang mga kumpanyang di nakapagreregulate nang tama,' he said. (What is painful here is that they are are operating from outside the Philippines. They are targeting Filipino customers… What hurts is that these companies are the ones who are unable to regulate properly.) 'Sa PAGCOR, pagka ikaw ay may license, dapat dumaan ka sa isang masusing pagtetest ng iyong mga games para nang sa ganoon ay makitang patas ang palaro. Ikaw ay kailangan magbayad sa nanalo, at ikaw ay dapat magbalik ng deposito ng player mo anong oras man hingin ito ng player sa'yo,' he added. (Under PAGCOR, if you have a license, you must undergo a strict testing of your games to show that you are playing fair. You need to pay the winners, and you need to return the player's deposits whenever the player asks it from you.) There are currently proposals from lawmakers to enforce restrictions or a total ban on online gambling platforms. Proposed regulations include restrictions and further policies on age verification protocols, advertising, and player protection, among others. 'Online gambling is accessible anytime, anywhere and often anonymously, making it particularly addictive and harmful to minors, persons who may be vulnerable to the lure of gaining easy money, and those desperate to make ends meet. Online gambling thus poses unique and costly risks, not only for those who gamble but also their families, communities, and Philippine society,' Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismulla said on the exploratory note of House Bill 1351 or the Kontra e-Sugal Act. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
PAGCOR, ASC to sign MOA for regulation of online gambling ads
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Ads Standards Council (ASC) will sign on July 16 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to regulate advertisements for online gambling platforms. PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said in an interview on Balitanghali on Tuesday that the regulation will apply to outdoor advertisements such as billboards and advertisements on prime time TV. 'Isa kasing, mapapansin niyo siguro, parang mga kabute na kumakalat na lang itong mga billboard na ito… Sa pamamagitan ng Ads Standards Council ay naniniwala po ang PAGCOR na mareregulahan natin itong mga billboard,' he said. (One thing you may have noticed is that these billboards keep popping up like mushrooms… With the help of the Ads Standards Council, PAGCOR believes we can regulate these billboards.) Tengco said that gambling platforms may be given enough time to take down their billboards and follow new size regulations. On proposals to restrict or enforce ban 'Gusto ko ipaalam sa lahat na marami na po nitong nakaraang buwan ng pag-aaral na ginawa ang PAGCOR at magkakaroon po ng anunsiyo kami sa susunod na linggo tungkol sa mga hakbang na aming pinag-aaralan at ipatutupad sa mga susunod na araw,' Tengco said. (I want to inform everyone that PAGCOR has done a number of studies these past few months. We will have an announcement next week about the steps we are studying and will implement over the next few days.) Tengco made the statement amid proposals to restrict or enforce a total ban on online gambling. Proposed regulations include restrictions and further policies on age verification protocols, advertising, and player protection, among others. 'Ang PAGCOR po ang hinihiling sana ay magkaroon ng mahigpitan na regulasyon… 'Yun 'yung nakikita kong isang paraan dahil sa paniniwalang mahirap pong i-ban totally ang online gaming sa kasalukuyan, dahil ang gamit lang po nito ay internet,' he said. (PAGCOR asks that there would be stricter regulations… That is one way I see because I believe it is hard to totally ban online gaming at the moment, since it just uses the internet.) According to Tengco, there are up to 70 legal online gambling platforms and hundreds of illegal online gambling platforms currently operating in the country. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
PAGCOR rolls out website to check legit online games
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Wednesday launched a website where the public can check the legitimacy of online gaming providers. In a news release, PAGCOR said the 'PAGCOR Guarantee' site ( was meant to crack down on illegal online games and bolster player protection. The gaming industry regulator said the initiative was aimed at providing a transparent and reliable reference for players and stakeholders amid the proliferation of fraudulent online gaming sites. 'This new website will help our players easily identify and verify whether the online gaming sites are duly licensed before playing or making any payments,' said PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco. 'By providing the public with a quick and accessible way to check a site's legitimacy, we are empowering them to make informed decisions and avoid falling victim to fraudsters and scammers,'added Tengco. The PAGCOR Guarantee site features a regularly updated list of licensed internet gaming platforms under the agency's oversight. Players can also directly enter the gaming sites through the page. 'Illegal online gaming sites not only endanger players but also erode public trust and deprive the government of vital revenues,' said the PAGCOR chief. 'The PAGCOR Guarantee is a key component of our regulatory framework to protect both the industry and the Filipino people,' said Tengco.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
