Philippine Online Gaming Operators Urged to Prioritize AML, KYC, and AI Training for Next Growth Phase

Philippine online gaming operators must direct investment toward workforce training in three defined areas to support the sector’s next stage of development. Ellen Joy Almanza, managing consultant at Buenas PH, a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor)-licensed online casino, outlined the requirements in a statement reported by GGRAsia.

The priorities are embedding volume-scale anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) compliance into operational roles, scaling predictive artificial intelligence (AI) and data science to detect problematic gaming behaviours before they occur, and recruiting platform architects who can support novel digital formats like e-sports. Almanza suggested the next five years in the sector will be defined by scaling sophisticated, specialised capability in those areas.

The electronic gaming segment accounted for circa 45.2 percent of aggregate gross gaming revenue (GGR) in the second quarter of 2026, according to Pagcor data issued last week. That segment includes e-bingo, e-games, bingo grantees, and onsite and off-site poker.

Industry Maturity and Employment Gains

Almanza stated that the industry’s growth signals a mature, structural evolution. She added that a compliance-first, highly regulated digital gaming landscape creates sustainable, high-value tech and corporate career paths, moving the sector beyond legacy assumptions of an informal or localised labour market.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that gambling and betting platforms recorded the highest wage premium within the arts, entertainment and recreation sector. The 2024 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry found gaming employed over 38,000 individuals with average annual compensation of PHP688,750 (US$11,200) per employee, significantly outpacing traditional creative, arts, and entertainment roles.

Online gaming contributes to national efforts to build higher skilled jobs in IT, cybersecurity, compliance, data analytics, finance, and customer support. Buenas PH noted that Pagcor seeks to build a sustainable gaming environment that generates quality jobs, attracts investments, contributes to nation-building, and operates responsibly.

Operator Responsibilities in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape

As Pagcor moves toward operating purely as a regulatory body, licensed domestic operators must absorb primary responsibility for real-time risk management and user protection. Buenas PH stated that navigating the rapid digital transition will require operators to fortify mid-level management and supervisory structures to ensure compliance stability during periods of high growth.

Pagcor lowered the GGR tax rate from 55 percent to 35 percent in 2024, with subsequent reductions to 30 percent for e-games. These steps aligned local standards with global benchmarks and drew capital into regulated domestic channels. The nationwide ban on offshore Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) removed significant market distortion and redirected investment into compliant operators.

Arden Consult observed in a recent white paper that the regulatory enhancements have made Philippine online gaming more attractive to serious suppliers. Operators that build specialized capabilities in compliance, data science, and digital architecture will hold a clear advantage as the market matures. Those that neglect supervisory reinforcement risk compliance failures amid rapid expansion.

Reporting: GGRAsia

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