Pagcor wants tighter control, not total ban, on online gambling

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has opposed the proposal for an outright ban on online gaming in the country, asserting that stricter regulations should be implemented instead.

Pagcor chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco said in an interview over DZMM on Tuesday that he does not want to say that the total ban proposal on online gambling is wrong, but he asserted that “regulation is the key” to solve the problem in the industry.

“Pagcor's current stand is not a total ban, but stricter regulation,” Tengco asserted.

The Pagcor chief said this after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri recently filed a bill that seeks a total ban on all online gambling in the country, while Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed a measure banning the use of e-wallets in online gambling.

READ: Marcos heeding clamor against online gambling

‘Gov’t earns hundred billions from online gambling’

According to the Pagcor chief, the government earns more than P100 billion from online gambling.

“The current government is earning hundred billions directly and indirectly. Let's not ignore it,” Tengco said in Filipino.

Breaking it down, the Pagcor chief said license fees earned from online gambling were approximately P50 billion solely in 2024. This is in addition to what operators pay to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“Because the truth is, one of the largest online gaming companies licensed by Pagcor, what was reported to me is that over P30 billion or P40 billion were paid in taxes," Tengco said.

Aside from this, Tengco said there are already approximately 32,000 directly employed by the said industry.

“Secondly, there are also ancillary businesses; there are security guards, drivers, messengers, restaurants where these people eat, various transportation companies used by those involved in the online gaming industry. So that's the indirect one,” Tengco said.

“So the impact of this is hundreds of billions in revenue for our country that could potentially be lost if the total ban is enacted,” he emphasized.

“That's why I said we have a senator, Sen. Win Gatchalian; he is for stricter regulation. That way, the industry can continue to be regulated, and at the same time, the government also makes money,” he added.

Illegal online gambling operation

Tengco emphasized that the illegal online gambling operation, which he said came from outside the country, is the main reason the gaming industry is currently in chaos.

“Right now, we can only capture about 45 to 50 percent of the entire online gaming sphere or the industry because there are so many illegal operators that are still operating,” Tengco explained.

“The proliferation of online illegal operators unfortunately does not come from our country but from other countries that target Filipino customers,” he added.

READ: Senators push laws vs online gambling

Tengco underscored that the illegal operators of online gambling have no regulations; thus, even minors can be involved and get addicted.

He added that the Pagcor has been receiving complaints that players in illegal gambling operations have not received their winnings and deposits.

“What is really destroying the industry today are the illegal operators coming from other countries who are targeting Filipino customers. They probably know that Filipinos love to gamble,” Tengco reiterated.

“That is what is currently destroying the well-regulated online gaming industry regulated by Pagcor,” he added.

Tengco reiterated that under online gambling companies registered in Pagcor, people aged 21 years old and above are only permitted to play, and minors are prohibited.

‘24/7 hotline for online gambling addictions’

To solve online gambling addictions, Tengco said that Pagcor is tying up “with a foundation” that understands gambling addiction.

The Pagcor chief mentioned that a 24/7 hotline will be set up in the next few months, where online gambling addicts can seek help.

“There, there are proposals that are being studied and finalized at the moment; there will be a 24/7 hotline where those addicted to gambling can call and ask for advice,” Tengco said.

“No matter what the vice is, there is a tendency among some that if you are weak, you will become an addict. But to counter that, we will set up in the next few months a hotline where you can call,” he added.

Aside from this, Tengco said the Pagcor is also partnering with a rehabilitation center that aims to rehabilitate gambling addicts.

AI-powered monitoring system

Tengco cited that the Pagcor is gearing up to use artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools, such as a “self-exclusion button” and a “monitoring system" to guide gamblers online.

“There are AI-powered tools, just give me a little time, that are coming out now that we've seen. We're studying what's called a self-exclusion button, where when you're really screwed, you can press a button. Automatically you can't gamble anymore,” Tengco explained.

As for the AI-powered monitoring system, the Pagcor chief said that if the system sees that the gamblers lose huge amounts of money, they will have a “cooling-off period” where they will not be able to play anymore until they fix their method or gambling habit.

“So there's a cooling-off period. If it sees, 'there are more losers here than winners,' then that will automatically stop you. You can't gamble anymore... because of this cooling-off software that's called,” Tengco said.

‘Regulate outdoor billboards for online gambling’

Tengco said that upon Pagcor’s coordination with the Ad Standards Council months ago, the two parties will sign a Memorandum of Agreement in a week to regulate all the outdoor billboards in the country.

“We will regulate all the outdoor billboards that we see popping up. They spring up like mushrooms, there are billboards everywhere, they're as big as buildings. So that will be regulated,” Tengco said.

He added that he spoke with the licensees only on Monday, and he received no complaints about the initiative.

“We'll just give them a little time. Because there are others, the ones for this month, for this year, have already been paid, but we won't extend what we call the period where we'll have all of this removed, and we'll regulate the sizes so that the buildings aren't as big," he added.

‘Gambling ads to be banned on primetime’

As for the gambling advertisements on television, Tengco explained that the Pagcor recommended to the Ad Standards Council to stop advertising online gaming licenses during primetime.

“So there is a window, I don't know, like 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that's primetime. It will no longer be allowed. For the young people, for the families who watch, watch the news while eating. They won't see ads like this anymore,” said Tengco.

He added that the Ad Standards Council likewise seeks to study the regulation of online gambling advertisements on social media.

Aside from this, the Pagcor chief said that he is considering the proposal to raise the amount of the minimum deposit so that the minors can no longer afford to gamble.

He said they will study the exact minimum amount of deposit to solve the issue of online gambling in the country.

The Malacañang earlier said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been following the situation of the Filipinos who have become addicted to online gambling. /mr

(2025/07/08-13:46)