The Philippines is one of the largest gambling markets in Southeast Asia, with a population of approximately 116.8 million and GDP of ~$487.1bn in 2025, equivalent to ~$4,170 per capita.
The country has a long-established gambling industry covering land-based casinos, bingo, sports betting, lottery products and online gambling. For many years, the Philippines was also known for its large offshore online gambling regime, which allowed locally licensed operators to provide gambling services primarily to foreign players. Following a series of regulatory and reputational controversies surrounding the offshore sector, the government decided to discontinue the model. Offshore operations POGO were prohibited from 2025, and the online gambling framework is now focused on the domestic Philippine market.
The local gambling sector remains substantial. In 2025, total gambling GGR reached approximately $6.3bn. Online and electronic gambling represented the largest segment, generating ~$3.2bn, or ~50% of total GGR, while licensed casinos generated approximately US$2.9bn, accounting for ~46% of the market.
Regulations
The Philippine gambling framework combines several core B2C licence categories with separate authorisation regimes for specific gambling verticals and B2B providers. Online and land-based activities are generally regulated within the same licensing framework, although additional approvals may be required depending on the products offered.
Casino: This is the principal licence authorising the operation of land-based casinos. Depending on the operator’s intended business model, additional approval is required for the relevant verticals, including table games, slot machines, poker, sports betting, bingo, live casino and online gambling products such as online casino and online sports betting.
Standard Gambling Venue: This licence authorises the operation of a land-based gambling venue and is issued for one principal vertical. Available categories include land-based slot machines together with online casino, land-based bingo, land-based and online sports betting, online bingo, online poker and numbers-based lottery games. Where an online vertical is included, the operator must additionally obtain approval for the relevant domain, website and platform. A separate authorisation for land-based poker may also be added to the licensed venue.
Unified Gambling Venue: This licence also applies to a land-based gambling venue but requires the operator to offer at least two approved verticals. The mandatory combination includes land-based slot machines together with online casino and online bingo. Additional verticals may be included cost free: land-based bingo, land-based and online sports betting, online poker and numbers-based lottery games. Online activities require separate approval of the relevant domain, website and gambling platform. A separate land-based poker authorisation may also be obtained for the venue.
Poker: A separate licence is available for the operation of land-based poker.
In addition to these principal licensc categories, the Philippines applies separate regulatory regimes to several other gambling activities and industry participants:
B2B: Relevant suppliers may require separate accreditation depending on their role. Categories include gambling system administrators, game providers, game aggregators, payment service providers, player identification system providers, accredited testing and certification laboratories, gambling equipment storage operators and certain gambling employees.
Cockfighting: Cockpit licences are issued by the relevant local government unit, municipality or city and authorise the operation of cockfighting activities. As a general rule, the number of licensed cockpits is restricted at the local level.
Horseracing: Horseracing operates under a separate authorisation framework: a racetrack operator generally requires a “Congressional franchise”, granted through a specific law authorising the company to establish and operate a racetrack and conduct racing activities, together with operational approvals from the Philippine Racing Commission and the Games and Amusements Board.
Lottery games: The principal national lottery products remain under the monopoly of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Private participation is therefore mainly limited to authorised sales outlets and other activities permitted by the monopoly operator.
Since 2025, the offshore online gambling regime has been prohibited. Online gambling licences and authorisations are therefore intended for operations targeting the Philippine domestic market rather than offshore players.
Licence requirements
Licensing requirements in the Philippines differ significantly depending on the type of gambling operation. Casino licensees are subject to extensive resort, gambling-floor and technical requirements, while SGV and UGV licensees must comply with minimum gambling capacity, venue and operational standards. Additional requirements apply to online operations and land-based poker rooms.
Casino
Casino licences are generally issued within PAGCOR’s integrated resort framework and are subject to detailed requirements concerning the size, configuration and technical infrastructure of the gambling premises.
For the relevant integrated resort categories, the total gambling area may generally not exceed 7.5% of the auditable gross floor area of the hotel-casino resort. For capacity calculations, PAGCOR applies indicative space requirements of approximately 27 sq m per gambling or poker table and three sq m per slot machine or other electronic gambling machine.
Gambling capacity is also linked to the size of the hotel component, with an indicative ratio of approximately one gambling table per four standard hotel rooms or equivalent units.
The casino layout and any subsequent material changes require PAGCOR approval. Operators must also maintain an approved surveillance plan, casino management system, cashier cage, count rooms, internal controls, security arrangements and technically certified gambling equipment.
Gambling personnel must hold the required B2B licences (gambling employment). Casino operators are additionally subject to AML/CFT, SoF, excluded-person and responsible gambling controls.
SGV
An SGV licence is issued for a specific gambling offering and requires the venue to meet the minimum operational capacity applicable to that vertical. The principal minimum requirements are:
- Traditional bingo – 30 seats or terminals
- Online bingo – 40 terminals
- Online casino – 25 terminals
- Sports betting – one terminal
- Specialty games – one terminal
- Numeric games – one terminal
- Online poker – one terminal
The licensed venue must operate only the gambling activities approved under its SGV licence and comply with PAGCOR’s operational, security and player-protection requirements.
UGV
A UGV licence is intended for venues offering multiple gambling products. At a minimum, the venue must operate 25 online bingo terminals and 25 online casino terminals.
Where traditional bingo is added, at least 25 seats must be provided. Other ancillary gambling offerings generally require at least one terminal for each approved vertical.
Both SGV and UGV venues are subject to a common set of operational requirements:
- Players must be at least 21 years old, present a valid government-issued ID and complete registration before gambling.
- Operators must also verify players against the National Database of Restricted Persons (NDRP)
- Licensed venues must maintain a valid fire safety certificate, have at least one security guard on duty during operating hours and operate CCTV coverage without material blind spots over entrances, gambling terminals, cashier areas, players and staff.
- CCTV recordings are generally retained for at least 30 days, etc
It must be noted that online gambling operates as an adjunct to a licensed physical gambling venue rather than as a standalone remote-only business.
To launch an online offering, an operator generally requires:
- An SGV or UGV licence covering the relevant product
- A licensed physical gambling venue
- An accredited Gambling System Administrator for the relevant offering
- PAGCOR approval of the platform, domain, brand and games
- A notice to commence online operations
The online product must correspond to an offering already authorised under the physical venue licence. A platform may therefore not operate independently from the licensed venue, and registration or acceptance of bets from persons outside the Philippines is prohibited.
Operators must implement IP geolocation and block non-Philippine IP addresses. Players must be at least 21 years old and registered with the relevant licensed venue or casino.
Player onboarding requires collection of identification information including name, date of birth, contact details, identification document and selfie. Full KYC must be completed before the first withdrawal or within the applicable short verification period, generally up to three days. Accounts with incomplete KYC are subject to suspension. Verification against the NDRP through an API connection is also mandatory.
Online platforms must provide daily, weekly and monthly betting or deposit limits. Deposits and withdrawals may only be processed through approved AML-compliant payment channels, while payment providers may not independently register players.
Games, RNG systems, wagering systems and relevant software versions require PAGCOR or approved independent testing laboratory certification. PAGCOR must also have access to the operator’s back office, player records, wallet transactions and GGR reporting.
Core infrastructure must be hosted in an approved data centre in the Philippines or within an approved cloud environment. Operators may use only registered brands and domains. Additional sub-brands, subdomains or URLs are subject to PAGCOR controls and must ultimately connect to the same approved back-office infrastructure.
For sports betting, operators may offer only approved betting markets. Certain products, including local horseracing, e-sabong and esports within the ordinary electronic sportsbook framework, are excluded unless separately authorised.
Poker
A separate poker licence is required for land-based poker rooms. PAGCOR distinguishes between:
- Offsite poker rooms – located outside casino or other PAGCOR-operated establishments
- Onsite poker rooms – located within such establishments
Applicants must be incorporated in the Philippines. General requirements are as follows:
- A licensed poker room must operate at least four tables. Using PAGCOR’s indicative minimum of approximately 27 sq m per table, this results in a practical minimum gambling area of around 108 sq m for a four-table venue.
- Poker rooms may generally be located in malls, qualifying hotels and resorts, commercial buildings, racetracks, cockpits and PAGCOR establishments. However, a poker room may not operate as a separate standalone building.
- Where located in an ordinary commercial building, the venue must generally be at least 300 metres from schools and places of worship and at least five kilometres from another poker room.
- The licensed premises must consist of one room or contiguous rooms under common management. Where the poker operation shares premises with another business, separate ingress and egress arrangements are required.
- The venue must include appropriate operational infrastructure, including a cashier cage, player registration and KYC area, CCTV and server facilities, toilets, staff areas, administrative office and storage. PAGCOR applies an indicative CCTV requirement of approximately 1.5 cameras per poker table, while players and employees must not be visible from outside the premises.
- Operators must also maintain AMLC registration, access to the NDRP, an approved KYC provider, an operational manual and properly licensed gambling employees.
A land-based poker licence does not authorise online poker. Online poker requires a separate approved offering under an SGV or UGV licence.
Licence cost and term
Licence costs in the Philippines vary significantly depending on the licensing model. In addition to application or approval fees, operators may be required to maintain performance deposits and make ongoing payments to PAGCOR based on gambling revenue.
Casino
Casino licence terms are established individually under the relevant agreement with PAGCOR. The operating period, investment threshold, approved territory, development milestones and renewal conditions therefore depend on the specific licence.
There is no single standardised application fee or uniform licence term applicable to all new integrated resorts.
SGV
A SGV licene requires minimum authorised capital of ~$80,000 and paid-up capital of at least ~$48,000.
Initial fees, terms and required performance cash deposits depend on the approved offering:
- Online bingo – ~$4,800 for three years; ~$16,000 deposit.
- Online casino and bingo – ~$8,000 for three years; same deposit.
- Sports betting, numeric games and online poker – ~$3,200 for two years; same deposit.
- Specialty games – ~$1,600 for two years; same deposit.
Renewal is PHP ~$3,200 for two years for all offerings.
In addition, PAGCOR charges an ~$800 processing fee and same inspection fee per offering. Administrative charges include ~$400 for licence reissuance.
UGV
A UGV licence is issued for three years and carries an initial fee of ~$19,000. Renewal costs ~$12,800 for each subsequent two-year period, while a ~$32,000 performance cash deposit must be maintained for each venue.
A further ~$800 processing fee and same inspection fee apply.
Slots, online bingo and online casinos are mandatory under the UGV model. Traditional bingo, sports betting, online poker and other verticals may be added as ancillary offerings without an additional fee, subject to PAGCOR approval.
For both SGV and UGB licences, operators are also subject to a recurring PAGCOR share and an audit fee calculated on the relevant gambling revenue.
- Traditional bingo – 20% GGR PAGCOR share + 2% GGR audit fee
- Electronic bingo – 25% GGR + 2.5% GGR audit fee
- Electronic casino, virtual/RNG sports betting and RNG specialty or numeric games – 30% GGR + 3% GGR audit fee
- Live sports betting and livestreamed specialty or numeric games – 15% GGR + 1.5% GGR audit fee
- Online poker – 15% of total collections + 1.5% of total collections audit fee
B2B
Online operations generally require an accredited gambling system administrator (GSA) in addition to the underlying gambling venue licence.
GSA accreditation costs ~$80,000 per game offering. The required deposit is ~$400,000 for one offering and ~$800,000 where two or more offerings are administered.
GSAs are additionally subject to minimum revenue and monthly payment requirements:
- Before December 2026, a GSA offering online casino is subject to minimum revenue of ~$480,000 and a minimum PAGCOR payment of ~$144,000 per month; without online casino, the thresholds are ~$240,000 and ~$48,000 respectively.
- From January 2027, these thresholds increase to ~$560,000 revenue and ~$168,000 monthly payment for GSAs with online casino, and ~$320,000 revenue and ~$64,000 monthly payment for other GSAs.
Other B2B providers are generally accredited for two years.
Game content providers, game aggregators and support service providers – including payment, marketing, customer support and KYC/membership system providers – pay ~$4,000 per relevant product or service, with the same fee applying upon renewal. A ~$15,600 performance cash deposit applies to the relevant provider or service category.
Independent testing laboratories pay ~$8,000 for a two-year accreditation and the same amount upon renewal.
Gambling equipment storage facilities and studios are subject to a separate ~$15,600 annual authorisation fee. Each additional studio cost per year is the same, while relocation of an existing studio costs ~$4,000 for the remaining licence term. Reissuance costs ~$400.
Poker
Poker licence costs depend on whether the poker room operates onsite or offsite.
For an offsite poker room, the operator pays a ~$1,600 application fee and ~$15,600 approval fee and must maintain a ~$48,000 security deposit. The recurring payment is ~$8,000 per month for the first four active tables, with each additional table charged at ~$80 per day or ~$1,600 per month.
Offsite operators are also subject to:
- 25% of tournament entry fees
- 10% of fees from specifically approved international poker festivals
- 25% of jackpot administration fees
For an onsite poker room, the application fee is ~$15,600 and the security deposit is the same. The recurring PAGCOR payment is the higher of ~$ 4,800 per month or 25% GGR.
Poker operators must also maintain authorized capital of at least ~$320,000 for each poker room.
Taxation
All licence holders are subject to a gambling (franchise) tax of 5% of GGR. In addition, operators are also required to pay entry fees, administration fees, PAGCOR share and other fees.
As per general taxation, Philippines companies are subject to:
- 25% corporate income tax
- 12% VAT
- 25% withholding tax
Responsible gambling
Operators must prevent access to gambling by prohibited persons, including individuals under 21, students, certain public officials and employees, members of the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police, persons included in the National Database of Restricted Persons, holders of gambling employment licences and, where registration is required, unregistered players.
For SGV and UGV operations, players must be registered before gambling:
- Registration includes basic identification and profile information, such as full name, date and place of birth, nationality, addresses, contact details, occupation, source of income, government-issued ID and a current photograph.
- The registration system must retain player data, verify the player against the NDRP and prevent prohibited persons from registering or gambling
- The same principle applies online: anonymous play followed by verification only at withdrawal is not permitted
The Philippines operates a nationwide exclusion system covering PAGCOR licensed and operated venues and websites:
- Players may self-exclude for six months, one year or five years, with the first six months being irrevocable.
- Family members (a spouse, parent or adult child) may request exclusion for six months, one year or three years, subject to verification of identity and relationship
- Operators may also initiate exclusion for misconduct such as fraud, theft, cheating, use of counterfeit money or chips, interference with gambling equipment or money laundering. Such exclusions may apply for one year, five years or permanently
Operators must maintain a responsible gambling programme covering player education, exclusion procedures, access to support services, complaints handling, incident recording and staff training. Gambling rules and equipment must also comply with PAGCOR requirements and applicable certification standards.
Casino operators are additionally required to maintain a clearly visible responsible gambling desk operating 24/7, staffed by responsible personnel and providing information and exclusion forms.
Anti-money laundering (AML)
Casino operators must identify the true customer and, where relevant, the account holder, representative, intermediary and ultimate beneficial owner of the funds:
- Customer due diligence generally covers identity, nationality, address, contact details, occupation or business, employer and source of funds
- Foreign customers must provide a valid passport or, where applicable, an Alien Certificate of Registration
- Where a company, trustee, agent or nominee is involved, the operator must verify the legal existence and structure of the entity, the authority of the representative and the ultimate beneficial owner
Identification is generally completed when the account is opened. Online operators may use documented video identification where the ID has been obtained and verified in advance. Withdrawals and transfers may not be processed until the required identification has been completed.
Customers must be classified as low, normal or high risk. The assessment considers factors such as source of funds, occupation, jurisdiction, transaction size and frequency, linked accounts, adverse information, sanctions exposure and politically exposed person status. High-risk customers are subject to enhanced due diligence, which may include additional documentation, verification of sources of funds and wealth, more frequent monitoring and senior management approval.
Politically exposed persons are not automatically prohibited from gambling under AML rules but are subject to enhanced scrutiny. A separate gambling restriction may nevertheless apply where the person falls within a prohibited category of public officials.
Generally, all operators must comply with following requirements:
- Operators must not maintain anonymous or fictitious accounts, conceal the true owner of funds, facilitate transfers or cash withdrawals unrelated to genuine gambling activity, accept funds of unclear origin, circumvent reporting obligations or provide funds or financial services to persons subject to terrorist sanctions
- Suspicious transactions must be reported regardless of amount, including where the transaction lacks a clear lawful purpose, is inconsistent with the customer’s financial profile, appears deliberately split to avoid reporting, involves unidentified parties or otherwise indicates possible criminal or money laundering activity
- Operators must maintain electronic monitoring systems capable of aggregating customer transactions, detecting structuring, comparing activity against the customer’s profile, identifying linked accounts, screening against sanctions and watchlists and generating covered and suspicious transaction reports
- Customer information must be kept up to date, generally at least once every five years, with more frequent reviews for higher-risk customers
- The operator must also maintain a formal AML/CFT compliance framework, including appointment of a senior AML officer with direct access to the board, written AML/CFT policies and internal escalation procedures, institutional risk assessment at least every two years, independent internal audit at least every two years, or more frequently where risk requires, etc
- Where a mandatory freezing order applies, the operator must immediately block the relevant funds or assets, prevent any withdrawal or transfer, preserve transaction records, make the required reports and refrain from informing the affected customer in advance
Marketing
Gambling advertising in the Philippines must be socially responsible and must not target persons under the age of 21.
Advertising must not use minors or persons who appear to be under 21, present gambling as a source of income or a solution to financial problems, guarantee winnings where they are not guaranteed by the game rules, misrepresent the chances of winning or available prizes, or suggest that player skill ensures success in games of chance.
Advertising materials must include:
- A “21+” indication
- A gambling-related harm warning
- The PAGCOR-approved responsible gambling slogan
For licensed gambling venues, promotional campaigns generally require prior PAGCOR approval. Mass promotional SMS messages are prohibited and may only be sent to existing registered players of the relevant venue.
Cashback and cash rebate promotions also require prior approval and are subject to specific limits and conditions.
Outdoor gambling advertising must generally be located at least 200 meters away from schools, religious institutions, public markets and certain other sensitive locations.
Market specifics for entry
The Philippines is a large and mature gambling jurisdiction with extensive experience in both land-based and online gambling. The country previously operated one of Asia’s best-known offshore gambling regimes called POGO, but this model was discontinued following regulatory and reputational issues. Since 2025, the market has been focused on gambling offered to players within the Philippines.
The domestic industry remains highly developed and commercially significant. As of August 2026, the market includes 11 online licensees operating more than 50 approved domains, over 250 land-based operators and more than 50 accredited B2B providers across different service categories.
One of the market’s particular strengths is its developed B2B ecosystem. PAGCOR regulates and accredits a broad range of suppliers, including gambling system administrators, game content providers, aggregators, payment and KYC providers, customer service providers and other support service providers. This creates a relatively structured entry route for international technology and service companies even where direct B2C market access is more limited.
At the same time, market entry is becoming more demanding. Following rapid growth in 2024 and 2025, PAGCOR has shifted its focus towards consolidation and higher compliance standards, including stronger requirements for operators and their B2B partners. The regulator appears willing to accept a smaller licensed market where this results in financially stronger and more compliant participants.
For established operators and suppliers with sufficient capital, mature compliance systems and reliable local partners, this consolidation may create an advantage by reducing weaker competition. Smaller or less experienced entrants, however, should expect a relatively high regulatory and operational threshold and an increasingly selective market environment.
Overall, the Philippines combines a large domestic gambling industry, an experienced regulator and a sophisticated B2B infrastructure. Its regulatory framework continues to evolve alongside the market, making the jurisdiction attractive but better suited to well-capitalised and operationally mature participants.
The 4H view
The Filipino market is currently undergoing continuous regulatory adjustment. Throughout 2025 and 2026, PAGCOR tightened requirements across KYC, advertising, responsible gambling, payments and B2B accreditation, while also introducing minimum guaranteed payments for gambling system administrators. A significant number of new memoranda covering UGV operations, B2B providers, cashback, fees and post-operational requirements were issued during 2026 alone. As a result, the market is regulated but the rulebook is still evolving.
These changes have already affected online gambling performance. In August 2025, online platforms were required to remove direct integrations with ewallets, which PAGCOR acknowledged temporarily reduced activity. More restrictive KYC, AML, advertising and B2B requirements have added further operational pressure. Online gambling GGR declined by around 22% year-on-year in Q1 2026 and remained below the previous year’s levels in Q2.
A more immediate barrier is the current restriction on new B2C entry. As of August 2026, PAGCOR continues to maintain the moratorium on new online gambling licences introduced in March 2024. The regulator has linked this approach to market consolidation and the removal of weaker operators and licence holders that were not actively operating. Therefore, although an online licensing framework formally exists, direct entry for a new B2C operator is currently highly limited.
PAGCOR is also tightening the commercial tools available to existing operators. Cashback and rebate programmes are increasingly restricted, advertising requirements continue to expand, and responsible gambling messaging has become more prescriptive. Further restrictions on online gambling advertising are also being discussed at the legislative level.
The Philippines remains commercially attractive, but operators should expect further compliance-driven adjustments and avoid building market-entry strategies around regulatory conditions that may change quickly.
The post The 4H view: Everything you need to know about the Philippines first appeared on EGR Intel.
EGR partner 4H Agency delivers its monthly insight into regulated market’s key requirements. This month, the Philippines is in the spotlight
The post The 4H view: Everything you need to know about the Philippines first appeared on EGR Intel.