The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has welcomed a delegation from the Malawi Gaming & Lotteries Authority (MAGLA), as part of a regulatory knowledge exchange aimed at strengthening gaming oversight in the African nation.
Led by PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, the visit focused on sharing regulatory experience, governance practices and approaches to overseeing the gaming industry.
Tengco said the exchange reflected the Philippines' growing reputation as a reference point for gaming regulation among emerging jurisdictions.
"We welcome the opportunity to exchange best practices with our counterparts because we can always learn from other jurisdictions and they certainly can learn a lot from our experience as a country with a more mature gaming industry," he said.
MAGLA serves as Malawi's national regulator for gaming, betting and lottery activities under the country's Gaming and Lotteries Act of 2022. The authority is responsible for promoting a fair, transparent and responsible gaming environment while supporting national development.
The visit adds to a growing list of international delegations that have sought to learn from the Philippine regulatory model. In early 2024, officials from Osaka City and Japan's Gambling Commission visited Entertainment City to study the country's integrated resort regulatory framework ahead of Japan's first major integrated resort, which is scheduled to open in Osaka by 2030. Cambodia has also sent representatives to the Philippines as it develops regulations for its own expanding gaming sector.
The latest regulatory engagement comes during a period of transition for PAGCOR and the broader Philippine gaming industry.
The regulator recently reported first-half 2026 revenue of PHP43.32bn (US$703.77m), down 26.64% year over year, primarily due to weaker electronic gaming revenue. The decline follows a series of industry changes, including the nationwide ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and restrictions on linking e-wallets to gambling platforms.
Despite the softer financial performance, PAGCOR said it remains focused on effective regulation while continuing to engage with international counterparts, reflecting its dual role as both a gaming regulator and an operator in one of Asia's most established regulated gaming markets.
The Philippines has increasingly become a destination for regulatory benchmarking, with delegations from Japan, Cambodia and now Malawi visiting PAGCOR in recent years
