CLAIMS TO FAME
- Former Vice Mayor of Malolos, Bulacan
- Long-time friend of new Philippines President Marcos
In his second year as chairman and CEO of the Philippine gambling regulator, Alejandro Tengco has adapted well to the endless political scrimmage and occasional symptoms of regulatory heart failure that belabour PAGCOR leadership. Since his appearance in last year’s Power 50, Tengco has developed a keen personal brand as well as helping evolve PAGCOR’s would-be rebranding.
On the former, Tengco has been the most public and industry-accessible PAGCOR boss in memory, rarely missing an opportunity to barrack for the Philippine gambling industry and assuring companies and gamblers alike that their interests are being protected under his watch no less than those of the Treasury. With this orientation comes risk, however, as frequent Senate attacks on the regulator testify. The next year or two of his term will test Tengco’s ability to deliver on the latter: increasing PAGCOR revenue even as foreign-facing online operations stutter, and amid various administrative and political attacks on the regulator’s integrity and competence.
Tengco has made an ambitious if familiar pledge to divest PAGCOR of its commercial operations, yet before this he has promised to launch an online casino product linked to the regulator’s Casino Filipino network. Are these complementary goals or a looming tug-of-war between irreconcilable interests? And can Tengco defy some experts’ scepticism on the appeal of offloaded casino licences?
To his political credit, Tengco has given himself most or all of the six-year term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to deliver the goods. He will need every moment of it.
For the full list of 2023 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
