Philippine e-games up, volume tempered by e-wallet restriction

Philippines operators posted PHP94.51 billion in gross gaming revenue for the third quarter of 2025, down slightly from PHP94.61 billion a year earlier, according to figures shared by the Philippine News Agency.

The e-games sector rose 17%, generating PHP41.95 billion versus PHP35.71 billion in the third quarter of 2024. However, that growth was mostly attributable to volume in July, prior to the mandatory delinking of e-wallets from licensed iGaming platforms.

Revenue from land-based casinos in the Philippines dropped 10.2% to PHP45.56 billion. PAGCOR-branded casinos saw an 11.6% decline to PHP3.22 billion. Bingo revenue was down 16.2% to PHP3.79 billion.

In total, the take from licensed casinos accounted for 48.2% of revenue. E-games, consisting of e-bingo, e-casino, sports betting and online poker, contributed 44.4%.

First-half surge sparked addiction concerns

In the first half of 2025, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) posted GGR of PHP214.75 billion, up 26% over last year. Though land-based casinos were down almost 6% from 2024, e-games rose 82.67% year-on-year.

That surge sparked concerns among anti-gaming activists including the clergy and some Philippine legislators. They criticised the industry for stoking addictive behavior, especially among the young and the poor. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri introduced Senate Bill 142, the Anti-Online Gambling Act, which would shut down all online gambling websites and apps and bar e-wallets and payment service providers from processing e-games transactions.

“The taxes earned are not worth the social cost,” Zubiri said.

Erwin Tulfo of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement agreed, saying, “As long as online gambling exists, we are breeding the next generation of addicts, debtors and broken families. No amount of tax revenue can justify this human cost.”

PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco called for stricter regulation, rather than a total ban. “As the country’s gaming regulator, our foremost responsibility is to ensure that growth comes with accountability,” he said. “We are committed to always strike a balance between enabling industry expansion and ensuring it aligns with responsible gaming standards.”

E-wallets blocked for gambling

In August, the Philippines Central Bank ordered e-wallets like GCash and Maya to immediately remove in-app links that direct users to gambling sites. That order suppressed electronic games’ performance through September.

“The delinking … resulted in a short-term decline in activity toward the latter part of the quarter,” Tengco acknowledged. “However, these measures are vital to protect players and ensure secure, transparent transactions. The figures reflect an industry that is adjusting to necessary safeguards.”

Tulfo applauded e-wallet firms for complying with the new restriction. “This is a sign that the business sector is willing to work with the government in addressing the problem of online gambling addiction.” But he warned that some online gambling operators would shift to other mobile apps like Viber, Telegram and Lazada.

Tengco advised Filipinos to avoid unauthorised platforms. “They do not follow responsible gaming standards, do not pay taxes and put players at risk of data theft and fraud,” he said.