PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco visits the booth of some gaming suppliers at the G2E Asia @ the Philippines exhibition area.
PAGCOR is reinforcing its responsible gaming framework as the country’s fast-expanding digital gaming market ushers in new opportunities and risks. Speaking at the G2E Asia @ the Philippines 2025 conference in Pasay City, Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco underscored that the agency has moved decisively to fortify integrity standards, strengthen financial safeguards, and elevate player protection.
At the center of these reforms is the delinking of e-wallets and select payment channels—an industry-wide shift designed to enhance traceability, prevent illicit transactions, and align the online gaming ecosystem with global compliance benchmarks. Tengco acknowledged that the transition has prompted operators and players to recalibrate, with revenue easing toward the end of the third quarter, but emphasized that the short-term impact is outweighed by long-term stability.
He said the recalibration is vital. The digital sector’s rapid expansion demands “foundations that fully meet global integrity and compliance standards,” and PAGCOR’s reforms directly target vulnerabilities that could erode trust if left unchecked.
The new financial controls form part of a broader, year-long strengthening of PAGCOR’s responsible gaming program. Licensed operators must now integrate self-exclusion mechanisms, betting limits, and other behavioral safeguards to help players manage their gaming habits responsibly. The ban on credit cards and cryptocurrency for betting further reduces risks tied to over-borrowing, impulsive decisions, and unregulated transfers.
Support systems have also expanded. Through partnerships with groups such as the Seagulls Flock Organization, PAGCOR is establishing a 24/7 helpline, developing a trained network of Responsible Gaming Ambassadors, and accrediting rehabilitation centers to ensure immediate access to professional care for individuals who need it.
Advertising standards have likewise undergone sweeping reforms. Under PAGCOR’s partnership with the Ad Standards Council, gambling advertisements were removed from public spaces and subjected to stricter truthfulness and responsibility checks—part of a push to ensure marketing practices reinforce, rather than undermine, public welfare.
Okada Manila President and COO Nobuki Sato, Newport World Resorts President and CEO Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, APAC Reed Exhibitions Senior Vice President Yip Je Choong, Bloomberry Resorts Corporation/Solaire Resort President and COO Greg Hawkins, and City of Dreams Manila Vice President for Gaming Operations Roger Lwin lead the ribbon-cutting that marked the official opening of G2E Asia @ the Philippines on Wednesday, December 10, at the Manila Marriott Hotel.
Tengco said these measures reflect PAGCOR’s long-term vision of a secure, transparent, and internationally aligned gaming sector—one that adapts to technological change without compromising integrity.
“The future of gaming will demand regulatory agility, industry cooperation, and a shared commitment to integrity,” he said. “Players should always feel that their safety and well-being remain at the core of our policies.”
The G2E Asia gathering at Newport World Resorts brought together regulators, operators, and technology leaders from across the region, highlighting both the promise and the responsibility that come with Asia’s evolving gaming landscape.