The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reported a sharp rise in net income for the first nine months of 2025, marking one of its strongest performances in recent years. From January to September, the state-run gaming regulator and operator earned PHP14.32 billion, a 49 percent increase from the PHP9.63 billion posted during the same period in 2024.

Financial Performance Strengthened by Efficiency Gains

According to PAGCOR, total revenues reached PHP84.09 billion, representing a 5.8 percent year-on-year increase from PHP79.43 billion. Gaming operations remained the primary revenue source, generating PHP75.93 billion, while other services and miscellaneous income contributed PHP8.16 billion.

Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco described the results as a reflection of PAGCOR’s ongoing reforms. “Our financial performance is a clear reflection of PAGCOR’s renewed focus on governance, digital transformation, as well as sustainable and responsible gaming,” Tengco said, as reported by Philippines News Agency.

Recent data also revealed that PAGCOR managed to lower its expenses by more than 20 percent compared to the previous year, signaling improved operational efficiency. These measures have enabled the agency to strengthen its profitability despite a slower growth rate in overall revenue.

Contributions to Nation-Building and Tax Compliance

In the same period, PAGCOR’s total contributions to nation-building climbed 11 percent to PHP54.26 billion, compared to PHP48.88 billion last year. Of this, PHP36.06 billion was remitted to the National Government as required under Presidential Decree 1869.

The corporation also remitted PHP3.79 billion in franchise taxes and PHP609.87 million in corporate income taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. An additional PHP11 billion was allocated to socio-civic projects, including remittances to the President’s Social Fund.

Beneficiaries of PAGCOR’s mandated shares included the Philippine Sports Commission, which received PHP1.80 billion—a rise of 8.66 percent—along with PHP26.54 million in incentives distributed to athletes and coaches who excelled in international competitions under the Sports Incentives and Benefits Act.

Other recipients were the Board of Claims, which obtained PHP142.42 million, and the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, which received PHP201.47 million. Host cities of Casino Filipino branches were granted a total of PHP508.20 million in revenue shares.

“Every peso that PAGCOR earns goes back to the people through classrooms, health facilities, disaster response programs, and other community projects. Our focus is to sustain this momentum while ensuring that the gaming industry continues to operate responsibly and contribute to national development,” Tengco added.

While PAGCOR’s financial position improved considerably, the agency has faced external challenges affecting its online gaming revenue. Earlier in 2025, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ordered e-wallet providers to sever direct links to online gambling platforms, resulting in a notable revenue decline. PAGCOR’s Assistant Vice President for Offshore Gaming Licensing, Jessa Fernandez, confirmed that the regulator saw up to a 49 percent drop in income following the central bank’s directive.

Despite these setbacks, Tengco and the agency have maintained that tighter regulation, not prohibition, is the best path forward for the online gaming sector. The chairman emphasized the continued importance of legal gaming revenues in funding essential services and infrastructure projects nationwide.