A newly formed group advocating for reforms in the electronic gaming industry, the Gaming Advocates for Meaningful and Ethical Reforms Coalition Inc. (GAMERS Coalition), has urged industry players and stakeholders to unite in engaging with government reform initiatives. The call comes as the sector faces increased scrutiny in the Philippines.
GAMERS Coalition head Jay Carizo said in a statement the group supports “legislative reform… but it should be based on accurate, scientific and relevant terms, without disregarding the fact that the real enemy is illegal gambling.”
The Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) cautioned on that a better legal framework, rather than overreaching restrictions, would ultimately determine the success of gambling regulation.
PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco called for a more rational approach amidst proposals to ban internet gaming. He emphasized the need for better overall regulation instead of eliminating the entire industry, including its productive sectors.
“While better guardrails in the sectors are needed, there is hardly a need to take things to an extreme,” Tengco said.
Carizo, who specializes in gaming policies, said, “The GAMERS Coalition believes that gaming can be a source of innovation, employment, and community building—but only when rooted in integrity, transparency, and accountability.”
He cited a report from a gaming hub, noting that “gambling is a curious industry and it’s a tested fact that whenever limits are imposed hurting everyone, illegal gambling surges, as in the recent case of the Netherlands.”
Dutch regulators introduced monthly deposit limits for online gambling to protect players, but this inadvertently pushed many players towards illegal, unregulated platforms, undermining consumer safety and responsible gaming.
“Let’s not forget that one of the main reasons why we legalized gambling was to cut down illegal operations, and not the other way around,” the coalition’s statement read.
Bills against online gambling and casinos have been filed in Congress, with lawmakers divided on how to address the issue. Some, including Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, JV Ejercito, and Win Gatchalian, and the Akbayan Partylist, favor restrictions. Others, like Senator Migs Zubiri and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Adiong, are pushing for a total ban.
The GAMERS Coalition echoed the call for a unified front against over-regulation and punitive sanctions, advocating for evidence-based policies.
The statement said that as of May 2025, 52.5 percent of PAGCOR’s gross gaming revenues came from electronic gaming, contributing to “nation-building, universal healthcare, and the real estate industry, among others.”
The coalition also supports various responsible gaming initiatives, including formal training for Responsible Gaming Ambassadors, updated responsible gaming slogans and new advertising templates, and the establishment of 24/7 helplines for individuals with online gambling addiction.
PAGCOR is set to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Ad Standards Council to regulate online gaming advertisements. This includes mandatory classification for all ad mediums and potential ad blackout periods for prime-time TV and radio slots.
The GAMERS Coalition aligns with industry experts, such as gaming lawyer Tonet Quiogue, who argue that proposed legislation to dismantle the Philippine online gaming sector may not be the best course of action.
Quiogue said illegal gaming operators “bypass all regulations, pay no taxes, and offer no player protections.”
“If the goal of certain lawmakers is to eliminate the social ills of gambling […] then the logical approach is to surgically strike at these illicit operations, not to outlaw the entire industry and penalize legitimate stakeholders,” the group said.
