Year-on-year decline attributed to a 22% drop in revenue from the electronic gaming sector
The Philippine gambling industry has recorded a 15.9 per cent drop in gross gaming revenue (GGR) to Php87.6 billion (approx. €1.22 billion) for the first quarter of 2026.
The decline was largely driven by the weaker performance of the electronic gaming sector (including E-Games, E-Bingo, bingo and poker), which saw combined GGR decline by 22.4 per cent to Php39.90 billion during Q1 2026.
Licensed casinos remained as the industry’s largest revenue contributor during the period with GGR of Php44.52 billion, equivalent to 50.8 per cent of the quarterly total.
The electronic gaming sector accounted for 45.6 per cent, while PAGCOR-operated casinos contributed Php3.17 billion, accounting for 3.6 per cent of total GGR.
PAGCOR chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the industry’s first quarter performance reflected the impact of economic headwinds and evolving market conditions.
“We attribute the first quarter dip to several factors, including softer discretionary spending amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and rising inflationary pressures,” Tengco said. “We remain hopeful that once the geopolitical tensions stabilize, consumer confidence and discretionary spending will also gradually recover, which should help support improved industry performance.”
PAGCOR has remitted Php5.67 billion in dividends to the National Treasury, represents 50 per cent of PAGCOR’s net earnings for 2025.
The latest remittance payment brings PAGCOR’s total dividends since the pandemic, or from 2022 onwards, to Php29.9 billion.
“PAGCOR’s P5.67 billion dividend remittance makes available much-needed fiscal resources that will enable the national government to mitigate the effects of the global oil crisis and pursue programs geared toward meaningful economic and social transformation,” added Tengco.