Philippines sees record GGR as e-games and bingo becomes leading segment
Gross gaming revenue was up 27.44 per cent when compared to last year.
The Philippines.- Gross gaming revenue (GGR) in the Philippines was PHP104.12bn (US$1.88bn) for the first quarter. The tally was up 27.44 per cent year-on-year. The e-games and e-bingo segment was the leading revenue generator for the first time, contributing PHP51.39bn (US$927m), or 49.36 per cent of total GGR.
Alejandro H. Tengco, chairman and chief executive officer of PAGCOR, noted that this represented not just revenue growth but “how consumer behavior continues to shift towards digital, on-demand gaming experiences, accelerated by greater access to mobile technology”
He added: “As digital platforms take center stage, the Philippine gaming industry is likewise undergoing a paradigm shift. Hence, our goal as a regulator is to strike the right balance between innovation, player protection and long-term industry sustainability.”
Private casino resorts, including those located in Manila’s Entertainment City, brought in PHP49.2bn (US$889m), accounting for 47.32 per cent of GGR. The total was down by 0.9 per cent year-on-year. Revenue from PAGCOR-operated casinos reached PHP3.45bn (US$62m), down 26.4 per cent and representing 3.31 per cent of GGR.
Tengco said that despite the minimal dip in revenues from licensed casinos, the segment showed “sustained strength and relevance”. “The performance of brick-and-mortar casinos remains critical to industry stability, particularly in tourism-driven hubs such as Entertainment City and Clark,” he added.
In 2024, Philippines GGR reached PHP372.3bn (US$6.51bn), a rise of 30.52 per cent in year-on-year terms. The total grew to PHP410.47bn (US$7.1bn) when PHP38.14bn (US$0.6bn) generated by offshore games is added. Offshore gaming operations were banned at the end of the year.
