PAGCOR targets 2027 withdrawal from casino business
The proposed Casino Filipino privatisation could bring in ₱20 billion to ₱30 billion, but its valuation has not been finalised.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) plans to stop operating casinos by the third or fourth quarter of 2027, according to chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco. The agency is seeking government approval to privatise its Casino Filipino business and separate casino management from its role as gaming regulator.
Casino Filipino’s operating losses are expected to total at least ₱7 billion in 2026, Tengco said, against approximately ₱6 billion in 2025. Rising workforce expenses account for much of the losses.
Tengco expects the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG) to forward a recommendation on the separation to the Office of the President in October 2026. He said PAGCOR would implement the proposal once presidential approval was granted.
Of the 35 casinos in PAGCOR’s network, the agency operates 12 on its own. The remaining 23 involve private partners under revenue-sharing agreements. PAGCOR estimates privatisation receipts at between ₱20 billion and ₱30 billion, with the final valuation still to be determined.
Existing gaming licensees, including major operators in Entertainment City, have indicated interest in acquiring Casino Filipino operations, Tengco said. He also expects current revenue-sharing partners to submit bids rather than risk competitors taking over their businesses.
Casinos in key cities have drawn particular investor interest. Cebu leads revenue generation among PAGCOR’s wholly owned casinos, with Tagaytay next, then Angeles, Davao and Malabon.
