Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos recently made it clear at the ASEAN forum that he hopes his successor will continue the economic and regulatory reforms of the current government after 2028, with particular emphasis on the major reshaping of the online gambling industry. Although no new policies were introduced, this statement has been interpreted by the outside world as a strong signal for the continuous stability of the current gambling regulatory framework. In plain terms, it sets a path for future policy direction—offshore gambling won't turn around, and domestic regulation will only get stricter. Looking back over the past two years, the Philippines' attitude towards offshore gambling (POGO) has taken a sharp downturn, from administrative bans to legislative killings, completely severing its legal basis. Want to understand the complete context of the dramatic changes in Philippine gambling regulation? PASA's official website continues to track key policy milestones.
1. Offshore Gambling: From "Emergency Brake" to "Permanent Sealing"
The Philippines' rectification of POGO has experienced a clear escalation path:
Mid-2024: Marcos announces a comprehensive ban on POGO in the State of the Nation Address
End of 2024: PAGCOR completes the cancellation of all offshore licenses
October 2025: The President signs the "Anti-POGO Law," elevating the ban to law, completely abolishing its previous legal basis
Thus, offshore gambling in the Philippines has become history.
2. Domestic Regulation: High-Pressure Compliance Replaces Expansion
Although domestic online gambling has not been completely banned, the regulatory logic has fundamentally changed. Starting from 2025, licensed operators need to:
Pay a "Responsible Gambling Levy"
Apply a new revenue sharing mechanism
Meet stricter anti-money laundering and responsible gambling requirements
PAGCOR's regulatory focus has shifted from "encouraging expansion" to risk control and compliance governance, and any negligence could lead to significant compliance risks.
3. Policy Continuity: A "Stabilizer" or "Unknown" for the Next Five Years?
Marcos' term ends in 2028, and his statement of hoping for a successor with similar ideals is actually adding to the policy stability during the political transition period. Whether the succeeding president will follow the current regulatory path remains uncertain. But at least for now, offshore gambling has been permanently sealed by law, and domestic online gambling operates under strict regulation.
The landscape of the Philippine gambling industry has undergone profound changes: from rapid expansion in the past to high-pressure compliance, risk control, and institutional reshaping. The future stability largely depends on the continuity of the political leadership.
————
This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
