(AsiaGameHub) – The Philippine gaming sector experienced a decrease in first-quarter revenue for 2026, with underperformance in e-gaming contributing to the overall decline, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Key Figures
- Philippine gaming Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) amounted to PHP87.60 billion, equivalent to $1.42 billion, in the first quarter of 2026.
- This total represents a 15.9% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.
- Revenue from e-gaming saw a significant drop of 22.4%, reaching PHP39.90 billion.
Commercial casinos continued to be the primary source of first-quarter gross gaming revenue. Licensed private-sector casinos generated PHP44.52 billion, a year-over-year decrease of 9.7%, and accounted for approximately 50.8% of the total GGR.
E-gaming followed closely in revenue generation, but its steeper decline impacted the market’s overall performance. Pagcor reported that this segment generated PHP39.90 billion between January and March, making up about 45.6% of the total GGR. This category encompasses e-bingo, e-games, bingo grantees, and both onsite and off-site poker, as defined by Pagcor.
E Gaming Weakness Affects Q1 Totals
Pagcor-operated Casino Filipino establishments contributed PHP3.17 billion in GGR during the three months ending March 31. This figure was 8.1% lower than the previous year and constituted 3.6% of the total market revenue.
Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco attributed the first-quarter downturn to broader economic challenges, reiterating a sentiment he expressed in April. He stated:
“We attribute the first-quarter dip to several factors, including softer discretionary spending amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and rising inflationary pressures.”
Despite the current dip, Tengco highlighted ongoing investments across the industry, including integrated resorts, digital advancements, and responsible gaming initiatives. He also expressed optimism that a more stable economic environment could lead to a rebound in demand:
“We remain hopeful that once the geopolitical tensions stabilise, consumer confidence and discretionary spending will also gradually recover, which should help support improved industry performance.”
The decline in the first quarter follows a robust performance for Philippine gaming throughout 2025. The full-year GGR reached PHP396.14 billion, marking a 6.4% increase from 2024. Growth in electronic and online gaming segments compensated for reduced earnings from land-based casinos, with the electronic and online segment generating PHP201.12 billion and becoming the leading revenue contributor.
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