The explosive growth of digital gaming has redrawn the global gambling landscape, wiping out borders, accelerating innovation, and exposing regulatory gaps that legacy systems were never built to handle, according to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
Addressing an international gathering of regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders, Tengco said the real danger to the sector is not tougher regulation but the unchecked spread of illegal operators. “The greatest threat to both regulators and licensed operators is not higher standards,” he said. “It is the continued presence of illegal and unregulated actors that undermines trust and distorts competition.”
Tengco pointed to the Philippines’ sweeping regulatory reset as proof that governments must act decisively. Central to the overhaul was the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), fully enforced by end-2024, after offshore gaming was linked to fraud, money laundering, and other criminal activities.
PAGCOR has also tightened oversight of licensed online gaming, pivoting to a more player-focused regulatory model. Reforms include stricter know-your-customer and identity checks, mandatory responsible gaming tools such as self-exclusion and betting limits, and tighter controls on gambling advertising to shield minors and vulnerable players.
Financial guardrails have been reinforced through restrictions on select payment channels and the rollout of a new minimum guaranteed fee for online operators to boost transparency and ensure fair government revenues.
“Regulation is not about avoiding discomfort,” Tengco said. “It is about building a system that is resilient, accountable, and worthy of public trust.”
He also underscored PAGCOR’s push to separate its regulatory and commercial roles, a key reform aimed at strengthening independence and aligning the Philippines with global best practices.
Tengco said the Philippine experience offers timely lessons for regulators worldwide grappling with a fast-growing, borderless digital gaming industry—an issue front and center at ICE Barcelona 2026.
