for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
PAGCOR has stepped up to clear the air on how many Filipinos are into online gambling. In a hearing by the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, PAGCOR head Alejandro “Al” Tengco revealed that around 10 million adults are active users on legal e-gaming platforms. That figure came up as he addressed earlier claims of much higher involvement, highlighting a key distinction between total accounts and those actually in regular use.
Distinguishing Active Players from Total Accounts
Tengco was commenting in light of clearing the confusion created by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. Gatchalian had referred to the figure of over 32 million adult Filipinos who were online gambling users in the year 2025. Tengco elaborated that the figure of 32.117 million refers only to the registered accounts and not the players. He emphasized the fact that the active players were only around 10 million, and accounts bound by PAGCOR were only the legitimate ones.
Putting the numbers into perspective, Tengco explained how such platforms worked. Of course, it’s normal for an individual gambler to have multiple accounts with several different operators. You can clearly see this behavior, as players will stick with one particular operator as long as things are going well, and then switch to another as soon as things take a turn for the worse. That behavior inflates account totals far beyond the headcount of regular users.
Average Spending and Market Share
Beyond the count, Tengco added that each of the approximately 10 million active users spends an average of at least P4,000, though he didn’t say if that was a month, a quarter, or some other period. The detail underscores the scale of engagement on legal platforms, where regulated operators handle significant volume under Pagcor’s watch. At the same time, he pointed out that these legal outlets represent only about 55–60 percent of the total online gambling market in the Philippines.
That market share estimate leaves a substantial unlicensed segment operating outside Pagcor’s reach, often through offshore sites or unregulated apps. Tengco’s remarks during the hearing emphasized that the 10 million active figure applies solely to legal platforms, meaning Pagcor’s data does not capture activity on the shadow side of the industry. It is a reminder of how fragmented the space remains, even as regulated growth provides a clearer picture of compliant play.
Senate Scrutiny on Gambling Numbers
The exchange unfolded as part of a broader Senate committee discussion on games and amusement, where lawmakers are digging into the growth of online gambling. Gatchalian’s initial reference to 32 million users had painted a picture of widespread participation, but Tengco’s clarification reframes it around active engagement rather than mere sign-ups. For regulators and operators alike, the gap between registered accounts and real players carries big implications for everything from tax revenue to responsible gaming measures.
Pagcor’s role here is strictly as the overseer of legal platforms, tracking metrics that reflect compliant activity. Tengco’s breakdown shows how player habits, hopping between sites in search of wins, drive up account numbers without a matching rise in unique participants. With legal platforms holding a majority but not total share of the market, the hearing highlighted ongoing questions about how to measure and manage the full scope of online gambling in the country.
Regulated Growth Amid Broader Market
Legal e-gambling has expanded quickly since its formal introduction, pulling in millions of users who bet through Pagcor-approved channels. The 10 million active figure signals strong uptake on those platforms, backed by average spending that points to meaningful economic activity. Yet Tengco’s estimate of 55–60 percent market share also flags the presence of unregulated alternatives, which fall outside the agency’s direct control.
Source: Inquirer.net
