At an anniversary celebration in Manila, nearly 2000 Filipino employees gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Entain PH. On the surface, this seems like a typical corporate event, but it reflects an industry that is quietly rising in the global gaming industry yet often misunderstood—the Philippine gaming outsourcing service industry. Many people think of the completely banned POGO when they hear "gaming," but SCBPO is a different story: it does not handle gambling funds or face players, only providing backend technical and operational support. From customer service, finance, risk control to marketing, these positions even sound a bit "ordinary." Honestly, the gaming advertisements seen by global audiences during the NBA Finals or the Super Bowl are likely produced by a Filipino team in an office building in Manila.
Behind the 2000-person celebration, SCBPO: Not a casino, but a backend
SCBPO's core business is to provide a complete set of backend services for overseas legal gaming companies, making the entire system run more smoothly. The daily tasks handled by employees include: customer support, human resources, financial settlement, payment management, risk control and anti-money laundering, marketing and design. They are not "operating casinos" but ensuring compliance and efficiency behind the scenes. Currently, the SCBPO industry employs about 5000 people, with regulations requiring 90% to 95% to be local Filipino employees. Due to the high technical content of the positions, salaries are generally higher than in the traditional BPO industry, considered a source of high-quality employment and bringing stable foreign exchange income.
Compliance outsourcing "injured" by POGO: Survival dilemma under policy confusion
When the Philippine government strongly rectified the POGO industry in 2024, due to the frequent confusion of the concept of "offshore gaming," SCBPO companies were affected. Some local governments mistakenly regarded these backend service companies as gaming operators, and some companies faced the risk of closure. Industry insiders privately admit that this situation is more of being "injured by mistake," not because the companies themselves are illegal, but because of cognitive confusion. Even though these companies are legal and compliant, they are still simply classified as "gaming companies" in some places, facing refusal to issue business licenses, stricter foreign employee visas, and additional charges as gray operations. They do backend outsourcing but are often treated like casinos.
Cost and talent dual attraction: Why the Philippines?
The reasons why the Philippines has become a global gaming backend base are not hard to understand. One is the cost factor: for example, in the UK, the remote gaming tax is expected to increase from 21% to 40%, compressing profit margins, and naturally, companies look for lower-cost operating models, making outsourcing almost an inevitable choice. Second is the talent advantage: PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco stated that Filipino employees play an increasingly important role in the global gaming operation system. Some of the creative, design, and even some operational work for major events (such as the NBA Finals, Super Bowl) are from the Filipino team. Many European and American audiences see advertisements that might have been born in an office building in Manila.
Future prospects under vague positioning: Clear regulation is key
The key to the future development of this industry is not about "prohibiting or not prohibiting," but how to regulate more clearly and accurately. The Philippines is still discussing whether to fully restrict online gaming, but PAGCOR's attitude is relatively clear: a blanket ban might push players into the underground market, and strengthening regulation is more realistic. SCBPO companies themselves are like a "compliance experience library"—they have long served mature markets such as the UK, Malta, and Gibraltar, accumulating considerable practical experience in anti-money laundering, player protection, and risk control. Whether the Philippines can find a balance between strict regulation and industry development will determine its future position in the global gaming service industry chain. For more global gaming outsourcing and compliance dynamics, continue to follow PASA official website.
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