Banking Restrictions Impact Philippines Gaming Revenue in Q3 2025
The e-games segment grew 17%, generating PHP41.95 billion compared with PHP35.71 billion in Q3 2024.
Philippine gaming operators reported PHP94.51 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the third quarter of 2025, a slight dip from PHP94.61 billion in the same period last year, according to data released by the Philippine News Agency.
The e-games segment grew 17%, generating PHP41.95 billion compared with PHP35.71 billion in Q3 2024. However, most of that increase was driven by July activity, before the mandatory delinking of e-wallets from licensed iGaming platforms came into force.
Revenue from land-based casinos fell by 10.2% to PHP45.56 billion, while Pagcor-operated sites saw an 11.6% drop to PHP3.22 billion. Bingo revenue was also down 16.2% to PHP3.79 billion.
Licensed casinos contributed 48.2% of total gaming income, while e-games — covering e-bingo, e-casino, sports betting, and online poker — accounted for 44.4%.
Strong first-half growth sparks social concerns
In the first half of 2025, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) reported a total GGR of PHP214.75 billion, up 26% year-on-year. Despite a 6% decline in land-based casino revenue, e-games surged by 82.67%.
That surge triggered warnings from anti-gaming campaigners, church leaders, and lawmakers, who accused the sector of promoting addictive behaviour among young and low-income Filipinos. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed Senate Bill 142 — the Anti-Online Gambling Act — seeking to close all online gambling sites and apps and prohibit e-wallets and payment providers from handling related transactions.
“The taxes earned are not worth the social cost,” Zubiri said.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, agreed: “As long as online gambling exists, we are breeding the next generation of addicts, debtors and broken families. No amount of tax revenue can justify this human cost.”
Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco called for a balanced approach, favouring tighter oversight over prohibition. “As the country’s gaming regulator, our foremost responsibility is to ensure that growth comes with accountability,” he said. “We are committed to always strike a balance between enabling industry expansion and ensuring it aligns with responsible gaming standards.”
Banking crackdown hits e-wallet use
In August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Philippines Central Bank) ordered e-wallet providers such as
GCash and Maya to remove in-app links that directed users to gambling websites. The move significantly curtailed e-games activity in the latter part of the quarter.
“The delinking … resulted in a short-term decline in activity toward the latter part of the quarter,” Tengco admitted.
“However, these measures are vital to protect players and ensure secure, transparent transactions. The figures reflect an industry that is adjusting to necessary safeguards.”
He also warned that some operators might attempt to shift activity to alternative platforms such as Viber, Telegram, or Lazada.
Tengco urged players to avoid unlicensed sites.
“They do not follow responsible gaming standards, do not pay taxes and put players at risk of data theft and fraud,” he said.
“Banking restrictions like the recent e-wallet delinking in the Philippines highlight just how crucial it is for iGaming businesses to have access to stable, compliant, and flexible financial partners,” said a spokesperson for Daw Global, an alternative banking provider supporting iGaming operators worldwide.
“At Daw Global, we help gaming companies of all varieties maintain continuity, safeguard payments, and operate confidently even as traditional banking channels tighten their policies.”
