The Current State of Online Casinos in the Philippines (2025)

Introduction

The Philippines has long been one of Asia’s most prominent hubs for both land-based and online gambling. With glittering casinos in Manila’s Entertainment City and a once-booming offshore online casino industry, the country became known internationally as a gaming center. But by 2025, the landscape has shifted dramatically.Recent government actions have reshaped the industry, especially with the crackdown on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and the rise of more tightly regulated domestic online gaming. This article explains the current legal framework, recent policy changes, enforcement actions, and their impact on local and foreign operators – all in plain language for a general audience.

Reference: Best Pagcor Online Casino Sites Philippines

Who Regulates Online Gambling in the Philippines?

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is the key authority regulating gambling in the country. PAGCOR not only runs state-owned casinos but also oversees and licenses private operators.

To legally operate an online casino in the Philippines, companies must secure a license under PAGCOR’s framework. There are several license categories, including:

• Electronic Gaming License – for online casino platforms and e-bingo operators.
• Sports Betting License – for online and offline sports wagering.
• Casino Gaming License – for traditional land-based casinos.

Until recently, PAGCOR also issued Offshore Gaming Licenses (POGOs) to companies serving customers abroad, mainly targeting Chinese gamblers. But that system has now been dismantled.

Obtaining a license is no small feat. Operators must:

• Incorporate a Philippine company.
• Have at least PHP 25 million (~USD $430,000) in paid-up capital.
• Show strong financial capacity and technical infrastructure.
• Implement anti-money laundering controls and responsible gaming measures.
  

This strict process aims to keep the market legitimate and prevent abuse.

The POGO Ban: A Major Turning Point

For years, POGOs brought in billions in tax revenue and created jobs, but they also attracted controversy. Reports of human trafficking, organized crime, and money laundering tied to POGOs grew too severe to ignore.

In July 2024, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced a total ban on POGO operations. This was formalized under Executive Order No. 74, requiring all offshore gambling operators to cease by December 31, 2024.

The reasoning was clear: while POGOs boosted the economy, the social costs outweighed the benefits. Crime, corruption, and exploitation had tarnished the country’s reputation.

By early 2025, Philippine lawmakers advanced the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which will permanently outlaw offshore gambling operators. The once-thriving sector has effectively been dismantled, forcing many operators to shut down or relocate abroad.

Enforcement and Crackdowns

The ban wasn’t just on paper – it was backed by aggressive enforcement. Authorities launched multiple raids on illegal gambling hubs, uncovering shocking abuses.

• In 2023 and 2024, thousands of workers, many of them foreign nationals, were rescued from illegal POGO compounds where they were forced into online scams.
• The National Bureau of Investigation and police have continued raids into 2025, seizing equipment and arresting illegal operators.
• Officials also warned about “guerrilla POGOs” – smaller underground groups attempting to operate illegally.
  

To counter this, local governments were ordered to monitor suspicious activities, and any new illegal operators caught after January 2025 face immediate arrest.

Domestic Online Gambling: Growth Under Regulation

While offshore operations were shut down, the domestic market for online gaming is expanding under stricter oversight.

PIGO (Philippine Inland Gaming Operator)

Introduced in 2020, PIGO allows licensed casinos to extend services online to Filipino players only. Customers must register and be verified in person before playing online. This system was designed to provide a safe, regulated way for locals to gamble online.

Rising Revenues

The results have been striking:

• In 2024, electronic gaming earned PHP 48.8 billion, a sharp increase from previous years.
• By the first quarter of 2025 alone, the sector already generated PHP 51.4 billion, overtaking PAGCOR’s own casino operations in revenue.

Clearly, the appetite for online play among Filipinos is strong – and PAGCOR intends to capture it through regulated platforms.

Calls for Tighter Controls

However, rapid growth has sparked debate. Some lawmakers argue that online gambling is a “silent epidemic” of addiction and financial ruin. Proposals have been raised to impose:

• Spending limits on online bettors.
• Stricter monitoring of payment platforms to block unlicensed sites.
• Even a blanket ban on all forms of online gambling – though critics warn this could simply push players to illegal websites.

Impact on Operators

• Foreign Operators: Those targeting overseas players lost their Philippine base. Many relocated, while others shut down entirely. The golden era of POGOs is over.
• Domestic Operators: Philippine casinos and e-gaming firms remain active and are even growing. They now enjoy a cleaner reputation without the POGO controversy, though they face stricter oversight.

The overall direction is clear: the Philippines now favors regulated local gaming over offshore gambling.

Conclusion

As of 2025, the Philippines’ online gambling industry is at a crossroads. The government has decisively shut down offshore operators, citing crime and social harm. At the same time, it is nurturing a regulated domestic online casino market through PAGCOR’s licensing system.

For players, this means safer and more transparent options – but also fewer foreign sites operating from the country. For operators, it means complying with stricter rules or facing enforcement.

The future of online casinos in the Philippines will depend on whether policymakers pursue regulation or prohibition. But one thing is certain: the era of loosely regulated offshore gambling is over. The Philippine government is determined to ensure that gambling, if it exists, serves both the economy and the welfare of its citizens.