Alejandro Tengco, Chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), issued an urgent call at the 2nd International Conference on Responsible Gaming and Addiction, urging the establishment of a cross-sectoral joint defense mechanism to address gambling addiction issues.
Tengco emphasized the necessity of "full societal participation," calling for regulatory bodies, operators, medical experts, and scholars to join forces and implement a "responsible gaming plan" that includes measures such as player self-exclusion, proactive family intervention, and strict control of advertising.
He pointed out that although the gaming industry inherently carries social risks, through improved protective measures and multi-sector collaboration, player safety can still be ensured.
It is noteworthy that in the first quarter of 2025, the revenue from electronic games in the Philippines exceeded that of physical casinos for the first time, reaching 104.1 billion pesos (1.9 billion USD), accounting for half of the total gaming revenue, with a year-on-year surge of 27.4%.
This trend continued the explosive growth of 2024, where online gaming revenue reached 154.51 billion pesos, marking an astonishing increase of 165%.
In response to the new addiction risks posed by electronic games, PAGCOR has implemented basic preventive measures, including prohibiting minors, students, and government employees from entering physical casinos.
The theme of this conference was "Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Problem Gambling," highlighting the Philippines' proactive layout in building a social responsibility system amidst the rapid development of the gaming industry.
