PAGCOR: Casinos' gross gaming revenue hits P93.36 billion in H1 2025
Integrated resort-casinos in the country have generated nearly a hundred billion pesos in gross gaming revenues (GGR) in the first half of 2025, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
'Of the P93.36 billion generated by the integrated resort casinos, P16 billion was paid to PAGCOR as license fees, ensuring funding for government social services and driving the country's economic growth,' PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengo said in his remarks at the Philippine Hotel Connect 2025 on Thursday.
Tengco said the resort-casinos accounted for nearly half of the local gaming industry's total GGR of P215 billion from January to June 2025.
The PAGCOR chief said that aside from contributing to government revenues, integrated resort casinos also helped position the Philippines as a competitive tourism destination.
'We have seen time and again how a thriving hospitality sector can drive employment, fuel trade, revive local enterprises, and bridge communities. 'And nowhere is this more evident than in the huge tourism contributions from our licensed integrated resort casinos within and outside Metro Manila,' Tengco said.
The PAGCOR chief, however, emphasized the need to impose safeguards in the gaming sector through effective regulation and responsible gaming practices.
Tengco cited a recent move to remove gambling advertisements from areas frequented by minors and its memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council to implement stricter gaming advertising guidelines.
'As the gaming industry expands, so must our safeguards,' he said.
'Hence, we have taken a firm stance against the proliferation of illegal and unregulated gaming operations that offer no safety nets or protection to players and, more importantly, no remittance or any form of revenue to the government,' he added.
The PAGCOR chief called for continued collaboration between the government and the private sector to maintain the momentum of tourism recovery and long-term economic gains. –NB, GMA Integrated News
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