Arthur Fuentes

A user demonstrates the features of a mobile gambling app while playing in Quezon City on July 11, 2025.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

online gambling

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reports a “sharp decline” in its income starting August 2025 partly due to the delinking of  online gambling platforms from e-wallets and a slight decline in new players. </p><p>PAGCOR Offshore Gaming Licensing Department AVP Jessa Fernandez said the agency&#x27;s revenues has dropped by as much as 49 percent.</p><p>“Based on our projections po nung half of the year ay nasa P60 billion po sana. However po, starting po nung August 2025, nakaramdam po kami ng sharp decline po ng income. Up to 49 percent po ng decline sa income po. So we are expecting po na baka po bumaba ang kikitain po namin by the end of 2025 as compared po sa projected namin na P60 billion po,” Fernandez told lawmakers during a House Committee on Games and Amusements hearing on Wednesday.</p><p>The hearing was scheduled to discuss proposed measures on online gambling, including those calling for a total ban and for strict regulation. Fernandez added, the drop in players may also be due to the initial minimum deposit of P500 that they have implemented.</p><p>“Now that we are implementing initial minimum deposit, we have also felt na more players or patrons are refusing to continue playing with legal online gaming operators. So I think, sir, it will have an impact also because some of the players deposit or top up within P100 to P500,” Fernandez said.</p><div><strong>ONLINE GAMBLING’S CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMY ‘MINIMAL’</strong></div><p>Online gambling’s contribution to the economy is “minimal,” estimated at just 0.37 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).</p><p>“The DepDev supports either a complete ban or prohibition of online gambling or if not, a strict regulation of the industry. This is considering its minimal contribution to the economy,” DEPDev Director Desiree Narvaez said.</p><p>But PAGCOR also funds programs of the government, including the Universal Health Care. Fernandez said, almost 60 percent of PAGCOR’s income comes from online gambling, and so a total ban would decrease the corporation’s contribution to the National Treasury.</p><p>Under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, 50 percent of the government’s share from PAGCOR’s income will be given to PhilHealth for its benefit packages.</p><p>House Committee on Games and Amusements Chairperson Antonio Ferrer assures there will be “more than enough” funding for UHC.</p><p>Speaking to reporters about PAGCOR’s contribution, Ferrer said the decline in income was acceptable if this meant vulnerable sectors were protected from gambling addiction. He added that there will be other sources of funds for healthcare.</p><p>“Ngayon, ‘di ba inaayos natin lahat ang budget? So there’ll be more than enough funds kung ang kinakatakot lang natin ‘yung funding for the universal health. Maraming pagkukuhaan for that.”</p><p>Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it is preparing a circular on regulating online gambling payment services, including imposed restrictions on amounts for bets as well as the time window for topping up.</p><p>The proposed limit would be 20 percent of the previous day’s ending balance as well as a six-hour window.</p><div><strong>OVER 12,000 ILLEGAL SITES BLOCKED</strong></div><p>The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has blocked 12,562 sites or 93 percent of the illegal gambling websites reported by PAGCOR since September 2022, according to PAGCOR Security and Monitoring Cluster’s Ret. Gen Raul Villanueva.</p><p>The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) said they have arrested 163 personalities in 12 operations under the campaign against online gambling since January 2023.</p><p>According to the Ad Standards Council, they have come up with more stringent guidelines in advertising, which would include not presenting gambling as a money-making activity that solves financial problems.</p><p>While Ferrer could not confirm that a bill on online gambling would be finalized by the end of the year, he said that by then, it is likely that a technical working group (TWG) would already have been formed.</p><p>“Most likely may TWG na, pero ‘yung bill, ‘di ko masabi dahil pati ‘yung output ng TWG pagbobotahan pa ng committee,” Ferrer said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wytLAuXQzg4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>PAGCOR Offshore Gaming Licensing Department AVP Jessa Fernandez said the agency's revenues has dropped by as much as 49 percent.</p>

PAGCOR Offshore Gaming Licensing Department AVP Jessa Fernandez said the agency's revenues has dropped by as much as 49 percent.

PAGCOR sees ‘sharp decline’ in income after online gambling apps issue

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PAGCOR sees ‘sharp decline’ in income after online gambling apps issue

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 22, 2025 04:58 PM PHT

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Updated November 01, 2025 01:57 PM PHT

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