Philippines 3Q GGR follows downward trend, down 11pct from a year ago

The Philippine gaming sector – including non-casino operations – produced gross gaming revenue (GGR) of PHP83.72 billion (US$1.33 billion) in the third quarter of 2026, down 11.4 percent from the prior-year period. The GGR tally fell 5.0 percent sequentially, according to a press release issued on Friday by the country’s gaming regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor). The year-on-year decline was largely driven by “weaker” revenues in the electronic gaming sector, which saw GGR fall 22.9 percent to PHP35.28 billion in the three months to September 30. The segment – encompassing e-bingo, e-games and bingo grantees – accounted for circa 42.1 percent of aggregate GGR in the reporting period. Its revenue declined by PHP10.45 billion from a year earlier, accounting for the bulk of the industry’s overall contraction, the regulator said. The announcement cited Pagcor’s chairman and chief executive, Alejandro Tengco, as saying inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainties continued to weigh on consumer spending. “These conditions have affected spending on discretionary activities, including gaming, and contributed to the weaker performance of certain segments,” he stated. The country’s licensed commercial-sector casinos were the biggest contributors to third-quarter GGR, at PHP45.38 billion, down 0.4 percent from a year earlier. The figure represented circa 54.2 percent of total GGR in the reporting period. Pagcor-operated casinos – under its network of Casino Filipino venues – brought in PHP3.03 billion in GGR in the three months to September 30, a 4.8-percent decline from the prior-year period. They accounted for circa 3.6 percent of total industry revenue. Mr Tengco noted that the pace of the industry’s year-on-year contraction had moderated compared with the second quarter, when GGR fell 20.3 percent. “We recognise the challenges facing the industry, but the slower pace of decline in the third quarter is an encouraging development,” he said. Mr Tengco added: “We will continue to work closely with our licensees to strengthen industry performance while ensuring that gaming activities are conducted responsibly and in accordance with regulatory standards.” In June, Mr Tengco suggested the country’s GGR could decline by as much as 19 percent in 2026, citing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their effect on consumer spending.