As first reported by Global Gaming Insider on the ICE Barcelona Live Desk, the PAGCOR Chairman and CEO, Alejandro Tengco, is currently putting together a position paper in the hopes of reversing a ban on gambling links in e-wallets.
The decision to enforce this delinking process from August was taken by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and was intended to limit the risk of excessive gambling – another significant consequence of the move was a slashing of PAGCOR revenues by 49%.
As Tengco informed Global Gaming Insider, those revenues are gradually recovering as players adapt to the changes.
Nonethless, the Chairman expressed his hopes of undoing the reform and explained: “I am putting together a position paper addressed to the Central Bank of the Philippines so that maybe we can review the delinking and, if possible, link these payment platforms again.”
This does not guarantee that a relinking will take place, only that Chairman Tengco will make this recommendation to the bank at the “soonest possible time.”
The PAGCOR Chief also confirmed that in the first half of 2026, a new network of responsible gambling hotlines will be set up.
He informed us that the new call center in the Philippines ought to be up and running by the latter part of the first quarter, and at the latest it will be functional by the end of the first half of the year.
This would be the first hotline dedicated to responsible gaming established by PAGCOR.
The Chairman took part in a panel while at ICE Barcelona 2026, during which he highlighted the work PAGCOR was undertaking to keep pace with rapid digital gaming expansion.
He also reiterated the organization's long-term goal of decoupling its regulatory and operator arms.
PAGCOR has previously announced its intentions to sell off its Casino Filipino assets by late 2026 or 2027
