Integrated resorts and casinos have become central to the Philippines' tourism and economic resurgence, according to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO, Alejandro Tengco.
Speaking at the Exceed Hospitality 2025 forum in Taguig City, he described integrated resorts as "dynamic lifestyle and business hubs" that are reshaping the country's tourism landscape and creating new opportunities for growth.
Tengco said: "Gaming, entertainment and hospitality are not separate worlds but interconnected forces that drive growth, create jobs and enrich the tourism experience."
Citing industry data, he noted that the gaming and entertainment sector continues to show strong recovery, with gross gaming revenues rising from $3.75bn in 2022 to $6.5bn in 2024, a 75% increase in just two years.
Tengco said PAGCOR has been modernising its regulatory framework while ensuring operators adhere to responsible and transparent gaming practices. Among its measures are an intensified campaign against illegal gambling, stricter advertising regulations and a ban on gambling promotions in public spaces and during primetime hours.
He added: "At PAGCOR, responsible gaming is not just a slogan but a commitment to protect the vulnerable, uphold transparency and preserve public trust."
Tengco also urged industry stakeholders to adapt to digital transformation and sustainability in line with the forum's theme, "Tourism Rewired. Hospitality Transformed."
He said: "The future of hospitality is being reshaped by technology and sustainability. We must ensure that every guest experience also contributes to local well-being."
Tengco concluded that PAGCOR aims to remain not only a regulator but a catalyst for responsible growth in the Philippines' gaming and tourism industries.
Good to know: Recently, PAGCOR formalised a three-year partnership with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to strengthen data privacy governance across the gaming sector
