Online Play Powers Social Spending in the Philippines

The national regulator, PAGCOR, said income from licensed iGaming now underwrites schools, medical services, and social projects across the state. In a briefing to lawmakers, it described this channel as one of the strongest engines of public revenue, with a desire to continue the growth. For operators, this points to a compliance-first market that rewards scale and stable planning.

Numbers and Segments

Key conclusions as of August 2025:

• $1.20 billion of total licence instalments from lawful iGaming;
• the share of $710 million from electronic entertainment solutions;
• the segment scope includes electronic games, electronic bingo, and bingo grantees.

Policy Moves and Enforcement

The regulator’s chief said online channels now provide meaningful funds for national priorities such as schools, medical services, and local improvements. About $480 million went to social causes in the first 7 months.

Lawmakers have begun considering tighter oversight, while the central bank told electronic wallet companies and other virtual payments to get rid of links that lead users to gambling portals. The regulator warned about a growing presence of unlicensed sites and pledged tougher supervision and coordinated actions with other agencies.