Imagine if online gaming had no rules at all. Anyone could open a website, players would have no protection, money laundering would grow, and honest operators would struggle to compete. In short, without proper regulation, the entire industry becomes unsafe.
This is why a regulator matters for both players and operators. In the Philippines, the agency in charge of these responsibilities is the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). It serves as the country’s official gaming regulator and also runs some gaming operations.
In this article, you will learn what PAGCOR is and how it compares to other well-known iGaming authorities around the world.
What Is PAGCOR?
The Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is a government-owned and controlled corporation, created by Presidential Decree No. 1869. Its mission was to bring gambling under state oversight, replace illegal gaming operations, and generate revenue for the government.
Roles of PAGCOR
PAGCOR performs a dual role. First, it acts as a regulator, issuing gaming licences and enforcing rules. This body has licensed and is regulating countless online casinos in the Philippines. On expert guides like https://ecasinos.ph/casinos/pagcor-casinos/, players will find a list of the casino sites under the umbrella of the regulatory authorities. Many of them offer bonuses that Filipino players can grab.
The agency also acts as an operator, running its chain of “Casino Filipino” establishments. But in 2025, PAGCOR’s leadership has pushed for a major shift. Its leadership wants to separate its regulatory and operating functions.
Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, when discussing the plan to separate PAGCOR’s operating business from its regulatory functions, said, “PAGCOR’s dual role has served its purpose in the past but as the industry matured, it became clear that – in layman’s terms – a referee cannot also be a player on the same field.”
The goal of this reform is to privatize its Casino Filipino branches and let PAGCOR focus purely on overseeing the industry.
At the same time, PAGCOR is strengthening its regulator function. Under Tengco’s leadership, it has rolled out tighter measures for online gaming, including a public verification page for licensed platforms, self-exclusion tools, and a 24/7 helpline.
These measures are highly important to promote responsible gambling on every platform. Demetris Jast, an iGaming expert believes players need these tools, especially self-exclusion, to protect themselves from addiction.
Aside from using responsible gambling tools, health experts also advise that individuals take breaks from gambling occasionally to protect their mental health.
Key Features of PAGCOR’s Approach
In recent years, PAGCOR has become more active and organised in the way it regulates online gaming. These are the most important things that regulatory authority does to protect the Philippines iGaming market for operators and players:
Licensing Model That Is Focused on the Philippines Market
PAGCOR’s licensing approach is tailored for both the Philippines market and operators who want to attract Filipino players. It cut its e-games fee rate from 35% to 30% of gross gaming income in 2025. Tengco says that the goal of the concept is to get unlicensed operators to join the legal side.
He said, “By lowering our share rates, PAGCOR is creating a more favorable regulatory environment by encouraging unregistered online gaming operators to transition to the legal market.”
More Control Over B2B Providers
In 2025, PAGCOR started a B2B Accreditation Framework for technology companies. By the start of 2026, all game makers, affiliates, and system providers must be accredited. If they are not, they will not be able to work. This is meant to clean up the supply chain and keep players safe from unwanted material.
Strict Rules and Safer Play
PAGCOR wants the rules to be stricter when it comes to keeping players safe. It has proven that it backs stricter rules for online gaming instead of a full ban. To protect people who are vulnerable, the body has also created new rules in 2025 to cut down on gambling marketing in public locations.
Attention on AML and Cleaning Up the Industry
After the Philippines was taken off the worldwide AML “grey list,” PAGCOR started to keep a closer eye on licensees. The Anti-Money Laundering Supervision and Enforcement Department is now doing more work.
How PAGCOR Compares to Other iGaming Authorities
Now let’s compare PAGCOR to three of the world’s biggest gaming regulators.
PAGCOR
PAGCOR is both a regulator and an operator, although reform attempts in 2025 want to split those two functions. It gives you direct access to the Philippines market and strong local control, but it doesn’t currently have the same international regulatory reputation as UKGC or MGA.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
When it comes to protecting consumers and stopping money laundering, the UKGC is one of the strictest regulators.
For instance, in 2024, it enacted rules that said operators had to show players their real-time net expenditure and time played. It also set required stake limits and a new tax for operators that they had to pay.
Malta Gaming Authority
The MGA is well-known in the B2B and iGaming worlds and works with the EU. It has a better oversight plan that focuses on following the rules, protecting players, and keeping gambling fair. Its process and cost are reasonable compared to the UKGC and easier than in many other places.
Curaçao Gaming Authority
curaçao is known for faster and cheaper licensing. But the new “LOK” (National Ordinance on Games of Chance) framework is making big changes to the system: better control, a clearer licensing structure, and more openness.
Final Thoughts
PAGCOR keeps the Philippines gaming sector going by giving licences to operators and making sure the market is safe for players. The changes it plans to make in 2025, especially the idea to split its duties, demonstrate that it is moving towards stronger and more focused regulation.
The agency is in the centre when compared to huge brands like the UKGC and MGA. It has a solid hold on the local market and is gaining strength every year, but it still doesn’t have as much global power as the long-standing regulators have.
