The Philippine gaming industry saw a strong start to 2025, with gross gaming revenues (GGR) hitting P104.12 billion in the first quarter, a 27.44-percent jump from the same period last year, the state regulator said Wednesday.
The surge marks a turning point as electronic gaming now leads revenue generation, according to Alejandro Tengco, chairman and chief executive of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR).
“The E-Games and E-Bingo segment made history by becoming the industry’s top revenue driver for the first time, contributing 51.39 billion pesos or 49.36% of the total first quarter GGR,” Tengco said in a statement.
“This represents not just revenue growth but how consumer behavior continues to shift towards digital, on-demand gaming experiences, accelerated by greater access to mobile technology,” he said.
Tengco said the rise of the E-Games industry has drastically reshaped the Philippine gaming landscape.
“As digital platforms take center stage, the Philippine gaming industry is likewise undergoing a paradigm shift. Hence, our goal as a regulator is to strike the right balance between innovation, player protection and long-term industry sustainability,” he said.
Licensed casinos, which historically dominated the GGR landscape, generated P49.28 billion, accounting for 47.32 percent of the industry’s total.
“While there was a minimal dip in revenues from licensed casinos compared to last year’s figures due to growing digital competition, this segment shows sustained strength and relevance,” Tengco said.
“The performance of brick-and-mortar casinos remains critical to industry stability, particularly in tourism-driven hubs such as Entertainment City and Clark,” he said.
Meanwhile, PAGCOR-operated casinos generated P3.45 billion in revenues, making up 3.31 percent of the GGR.
