PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco has described the tightened restrictions imposed on eGames operators in recent months as a necessary adjustment that will provide the industry with a more stable base in the long-term.
Speaking at a gathering of the Association of Independent Licensed Gaming and Amusement Operators, Inc. (AILGAO) in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, Tengco also said that a recent dip in a gross gaming revenues as a result of the delinking of gaming-related links from e-wallet platforms would only prove a temporary blip for a growing sector.
“You may be interested to know that in the third quarter of 2025, we recorded an industry GGR that was a bit lower than last year – but this reflects an industry transitioning to stronger and safer practices,” he said, noting that eGames and eBingo still grew 17.4% in the third quarter compared with the same period last year, even with the delinking resulting in a GGR decline in August and September.
“We know that many of you were affected by this sudden development. However, we must not look at these reforms as obstacles but as safeguards designed to protect your players, your businesses and the entire ecosystem you operate in.”
The bigger challenge, Tengco observed, remains combatting illegal operators who continue to expand aggressively without paying taxes or observing player protection protocols.
“They expose players to financial fraud and data theft,” he said. “But the worst part is, they damage the reputation of the entire industry, including the legitimate ones.”
Other recent reforms include enhanced Know Your Customer requirements and a ban on all out-of-home advertising of online gaming operators.
