The operators of online gambling platforms in the Philippines claim that more than 50,000 jobs could be lost if the government imposes a total ban on the industry, according to information published by local media outlet Philippine Star.
Industry representatives have also reiterated concerns that a ban on legal operations would do little more than spark a surge in black market gaming sites.
Data cited by the Philippine Star points to more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs being supported by the Philippines’ domestic online gaming, or eGames, sector, which has shown massive growth since regulator PAGCOR implemented a legal framework during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced fees for licensed operators. Those jobs, the report, states, cover everything from IT, customer service, compliance, game development and marketing.
PAGCOR reported total revenues of Php28.1 billion (US$504 million) in 1Q25, up 11.2% year-on-year, of which Php25.5 billion (US$457 million) came from gaming operations. Of this, 56% was contributed by the eGames and eBingo segment, which generated Php14.32 billion (US$257 million).
In a recent paper outlining the potential impact of an online gaming ban, Tonet Quiogue, CEO of Arden Consult, wrote, “The real enemy is illegal, unregulated gambling, not the licensed platforms that follow strict safeguards and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Legal operators in the Philippines are already aligned with global best practices. They implement robust KYC, age verification, self-exclusion tools, and real-time monitoring. You ban those, and what you get is a black-market surge.
“A total ban will not stop online gaming. It will only shift activity to unregulated sites, at the cost of jobs, public funds and player protection.”
The online gaming issue has become a major discussion point in recent weeks after renowned anti-gambling campaigner, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, filed a bill seeking to impose significant restrictions on the industry, including stricter know-your-customer rules, greater regulation of gambling advertising, the imposition of a minimum top-up threshold of Php10,000 (US$177) and a ban on payment platforms like GCash and Maya from working with online betting operators.
However, his bill has prompted others to call for a total ban on all online gaming nationwide.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco has since outlined his stance that strict regulation rather than prohibition is the more reasonable path to follow. The regulator has in recent weeks ordered all -out-of-home online gaming advertising to be removed and imposed restrictions on the hours in which related television ads can be aired.
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