The event was organised by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) and hosted by Newport World Resorts<\/strong>. It gathered regulators, operators, and stakeholders from across the region to tackle concerns on player protection and financial integrity, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In her keynote address, Wilma Eisma<\/strong>, PAGCOR president and COO, said that while gaming jurisdictions in the region vary in size and maturity, they share common challenges such as cross-border transactions, rapid digitalisation and balancing economic benefits with social responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the Philippines, electronic gaming has become a significant growth driver and PAGCOR has responded with initiatives that ensure accountability, security, and consumer protection while allowing the industry to thrive responsibly,\u201d Eisma said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said digitalisation, remote gaming, and emerging platforms are testing the limits of traditional oversight models. \u201cBy exchanging best practices, aligning responsible standards, and keeping pace with innovation, we can ensure that the region\u2019s gaming industry grows not just in size but in trust, resilience, and sustainability,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eisma said PAGCOR has introduced reforms such as stricter advertising rules<\/a>, stronger financial safeguards but noted that the greater challenge lies in keeping pace with the rapid evolution of online and remote gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PAGCOR executive expressed hope that the Regulators\u2019 Forum will become an annual platform for dialogue, with an expanded edition already being planned for 2026. She concluded: \u201cI am confident that this Regulators\u2019 Forum will evolve into a hub for knowledge, collaboration and shared commitment. Together, let us set the tone for gaming regulation in Asia: one that is innovative, collaborative and firmly anchored on integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this week, Alejandro H. Tengco<\/strong>, chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, spoke at the Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) Summit 2025 and\u00a0reiterated the agency\u2019s plans to decouple its commercial operations from its regulatory functions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tengco has been pressing for stricter regulation<\/a> for online gaming amid calls for a ban. He argues that prohibition<\/a> would encourage illegal operations and deprive the government of revenues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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