PAGCOR attributes 16% drop in Q1 gambling revenue to fuel crisis and geopolitical tensions

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced that the nation’s gambling sector recorded PHP 87.6 billion (€1.22 billion) in gross gaming revenue in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a year-on-year drop of 15.9%.

Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR chairperson and CEO, explained that the revenue decline was mainly driven by a 22.4% decrease across electronic gaming categories—including E-Games, E-Bingo, bingo, and poker—compared to the same period last year.

Tengco attributed this downturn to several factors: increased fuel prices, ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and broader inflationary pressures that have led to reduced consumer spending.

Licensed casinos remain the largest segment of the Philippine gaming industry, generating PHP 45 billion in Q1 revenues this year, though this marks a decline of over PHP 4 billion from the previous year.

PAGCOR-operated casinos contributed only PHP 3 billion in Q1, accounting for less than 4% of total industry revenue. While the agency continues to pursue its long-term strategy of separating regulatory duties from casino operations by selling its gaming assets, these plans are currently under review by the national government.

Despite the lower-than-anticipated revenue figures, Mr. Tengco maintains an optimistic outlook on the future of the Philippine gaming sector and expects consumer confidence to improve once global geopolitical conditions stabilize.

Recently, PAGCOR disbursed PHP 5.7 billion in dividends to the National Government as mandated by law. Officials noted that these funds will support efforts to mitigate the impacts of the current fuel crisis.