The Philippines’ licensed online gaming operators are standing united with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and forward-thinking lawmakers, advocating for robust regulation rather than a total prohibition on online gaming with the aim of safeguarding Filipino players and ensuring the country’s economy continues to thrive.
As debates intensify in Congress over proposals to outlaw online gaming or restrict payment channels, legal operators are issuing a stark warning in a statement released by 14 licensed gaming operators.
They contend that a complete ban will not halt Filipinos from playing, but will instead drive tens of millions of players into the black market, where unlicensed and unregulated operators flourish unchecked.
“Prohibition does not erase online gaming. It only erases the safeguards that protect the Filipino people,” a statement from the industry read. “The reality is clear: players will continue to play. The choice is whether they do so on secure, licensed platforms that follow regulations, or on black-market sites that answer to no one.”
Real Safeguards Already in Place
The licensed online gaming sector in the Philippines already implements some of the most stringent protections in Asia. These include Strict Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and multi-factor authentication protocols; Cross-referencing players against PAGCOR’s National Database of Restricted Persons; Enforcing a strict age limit requiring all players to be 21 or older; Providing self-exclusion tools and real-time monitoring for at-risk behavior; Adhering to advertising restrictions that prohibit predatory claims; and Significant contributions to national revenue, job creation, and technology development.Every peso wagered on a licensed platform directly supports public services like schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, while also bolstering player safety through regulation and oversight. Conversely, every peso spent on an illegal site is money diverted from communities and channeled directly to illicit operators who disregard Philippine laws, the statement said.
Global Lessons, Local Realities
The industry points to international precedents that demonstrate the futility of bans. Of 195 countries worldwide, 177 choose to regulate online gaming. Only 18 nations, including North Korea, Iran, and Somalia, maintain total bans, none of which have successfully eradicated underground gaming.In the United States, a federal ban enacted in 2006 merely pushed American players to unregulated offshore sites. By 2013, the U.S. began to re-legalize online gaming to regain control, subsequently generating over US71.9billion in revenues and more than US15 billion in taxes. Countries like Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina have observed similar patterns: prohibition fuels crime, while regulation reclaims it.
The Case for the Philippines
Domestically, the numbers paint a compelling picture. Since regulated online gaming expanded in 2022, PAGCOR’s license fee collections alone have surged from ₱12.3 billion to ₱54 billion in 2024, directly funding national projects that benefit all Filipinos. PAGCOR’s total revenues reached ₱112 billion last year, with online gaming contributing nearly half of that. Furthermore, the sector employs over 50,000 Filipinos, many in high-value roles across technology, cybersecurity, creative design, and artificial intelligence. The country’s licensed operators warn that a reckless ban, or the severing of legitimate payment channels, would obliterate this progress overnight, leading to massive job losses and ceding the entire market to illegal sites. In such unregulated environments, players would lose all protections, including age checks, data security, support for problem gambling, and any economic contribution to the nation.
A Call for Balanced, Intelligent Regulation
Instead of bans that drive players into the shadows, the industry is urging lawmakers to reinforce existing effective measures. This includes calls for tighter age and identity verification, clear limits for at-risk players, stronger anti-money laundering safeguards, faster site takedowns for illegal operators, and expanded public education on player rights and responsible play.”Let’s be clear: the real enemy is not regulated gaming. It is the rise of illegal operators who put profits over Filipino welfare,” the operators said. “Legal operators do not fear tougher rules, they welcome them. What they fear is surrendering our digital future to the black market.”
As ASEAN neighbors like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam modernize their gaming regulations to attract investment and protect players, the Philippines risks falling behind if fear-driven bans dismantle an industry proven to generate jobs, strengthen technology, and raise billions in revenue under proper oversight. Regulators are implored: “Don’t hand this industry to criminals. Keep it legal, keep it safe, and keep it proudly Filipino.”
The country’s licensed online gaming operators reaffirm their commitment to collaborate with the government, regulators, and communities to ensure online gaming remains secure, transparent, and a genuine source of national benefit.
The statement was signed by World Platinum Technologies Inc., AB Leisure Exponent, Inc., Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc., Gamemaster Integrated, Inc., Lucky Taya Gaming Corp., Stotsenberg Leisure Park & Hotel Corporation, Igo Digital High Technology Inc., Megabet Corp., Gavin Ventures Inc., Gotech Entertainment Inc., Meta Interactive Software Solutions, Inc., Nextstage Entertainment Inc., Webzoid System Solutions Corporation and Trojan Wells Entertainment Corp.
