PAGCOR Projects Casino Filipino Losses to Reach US$111 Million as Decoupling Gains Momentum
Summary
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco is confident that the regulator's decoupling of its regulatory and operational roles will receive a supportive recommendation from the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations and be signed off by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Casino Filipino, which operates almost 40 casinos nationwide, has recorded losses of around Php6 billion (US$95 million) in 2026, projected to rise to Php7 billion (US$111 million) by year-end due to operating costs and competition from integrated resorts. Some integrated resorts have expressed interest in acquiring certain Casino Filipino branches after decoupling. The Philippine gaming industry's gross gaming revenue is now expected to reach Php350 billion (US$5.57 billion) instead of the Php400 billion (US$6.36 billion) target. PAGCOR's net income is set to decline below Php5 billion (US$79.5 million), worsened by a Supreme Court ruling requiring payment of 5% of gross revenue to the Philippine Sports Commission, backdated to 1993. Decoupling is seen as a way to transfer underperforming assets and refocus PAGCOR on regulation, but timely execution will be critical to stabilizing its finances.
(Source:Sccg Management)