PAGCOR Projects PHP87 Billion Revenue for 2026 Following Online Gaming Adjustments

During an August 2026 budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation outlined its revenue forecast of approximately PHP87 billion for the full year ahead. That figure marks an 18 percent reduction from the PHP106.03 billion recorded in 2025, and agency representatives tied the decline directly to reduced activity across online gaming channels after e-wallet services were disconnected from licensed platforms in late 2025. The presentation also referenced ongoing economic pressures linked to the Middle East conflict, which have affected specific customer segments and contributed to softer overall results.

Details from the Congressional Presentation

Agency leaders walked lawmakers through the numbers during the session, noting that first-half 2026 collections already showed a 26.64 percent year-on-year drop. Those interim figures set the tone for the annual projection, and officials explained that the delinking of e-wallets removed a key payment method that many players had relied on for quick deposits and withdrawals. Without that channel, transaction volumes in the online segment contracted sharply, producing the roughly 40 percent activity reduction cited in the hearing materials.

Year-to-Date Performance and Full-Year Outlook

Figures shared during the hearing indicated that the first six months of 2026 generated noticeably less income than the same period in the prior year. The 26.64 percent decline set a baseline for the remainder of the calendar year, and agency staff projected that the second half would follow a similar pattern once the full effects of the e-wallet policy and external economic conditions were factored in. The resulting PHP87 billion estimate therefore reflects both observed results and forward-looking adjustments rather than an isolated forecast.

Observers who attended the session noted that the agency framed the projection as a realistic assessment grounded in current operational data. The presentation avoided speculation about future regulatory reversals and instead focused on the measurable consequences of the payment-method change and the documented regional economic headwinds.

Context Within Broader Regulatory Environment

PAGCOR serves as both regulator and operator for gaming activities across the Philippines, and its revenue streams support multiple government programs. The budget hearing therefore placed the 2026 projection in the context of national fiscal planning, where lawmakers consider how reduced collections might influence allocations for public services. Agency representatives emphasized that the forecast already incorporated the policy-driven drop in online activity and the secondary effects from the Middle East situation, leaving little room for upward revision unless those underlying conditions change.

Throughout the discussion, committee members asked for clarification on the timing of the e-wallet delinking and the scale of its impact. Agency staff responded with the same 40 percent activity reduction figure and the corresponding revenue shortfall, reinforcing the link between the payment restriction and the lower totals. The exchange kept attention on the concrete data rather than on potential remedies or alternative scenarios.

Conclusion

The August 2026 hearing delivered a clear snapshot of PAGCOR’s expectations for the coming year. With revenue projected at PHP87 billion, an 18 percent decline from 2025, and first-half results already reflecting a 26.64 percent drop, the agency attributed the movement primarily to the late-2025 e-wallet separation and to economic pressures tied to the Middle East conflict. Those elements, presented together during the appropriations session, formed the factual basis for the revised outlook that now guides fiscal planning for the period ahead. 2026 Revenue Projections and related coverage from Inquirer.net provide additional background on the figures discussed.