Online Gambling Regulations in the Philippines

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Deni

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Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

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Published: August 10, 2020
Updated: April 2, 2026

Online gambling is an incredibly hot topic nowadays, especially amongst government officials. This billion-dollar industry has the potential to bring in big revenue each year, but with it comes a whole new set of problems.

So, there are many countries that have opened their doors to online gambling, while others have tried to block it in any way possible.

The Philippines, however, is another story. In this small country, gambling exists and it’s very popular. The country is home to many large casinos that have all been licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

When it comes to online gambling, things can often get confusing. It is legal, but there is a difference between the main region of the Philippines and the Cagayan Freeport in how it is run.

Gambling regulations in the Philippines — Gambling regulations, laws and taxes in the Philippines

In this guide, we take a look at the history, current laws and regulations and all things affecting online gambling in the Philippines.

History and laws of gambling in the Philippines

The Philippines has never been against gambling per se, but rather against any forms of illegal gambling. The laws can be quite difficult to understand at first as well. Here's a breakdown:

The Philippines has two regulatory bodies that are in complete control of gambling operations.

The main regulatory body is PAGCOR. It is 100% state-owned and is responsible for licensing all the nation’s gambling operations. PAGCOR was given a new lease in 2007, which means it will remain in control until 2032. About 50% of all revenue from any casinos goes to the national treasury.
Then there's the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), which has control over gambling matters in the tourist-friendly Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport. This area is the only part of the Philippines that remains outside of the control of PAGCOR.

The differences in gambling laws between these two regions are minor, but the biggest one is in their approach to online gambling.

The Cagayan territory only allows foreign players to take part in online gambling.
In the main part of the Philippines, Filipinos are only allowed to gamble online by using one of many e-Games Stations (PEGS) placed around the country. Thus, it is illegal for them to gamble online directly from their homes.

A problem in this ruling showed its head in 2012 when the Filipino Court of Appeals issued a ruling that stated the Presidential Act does not cover everything, and as such, does not ban the use of international online casinos.

This means that Filipinos can still gamble on online foreign sites without getting into trouble for it with the law.

According to the court appeal of 2012, it was made clear that players cannot be penalised for anything that is not specifically claimed as illegal according to the laws.

A quick fix by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

There are clearly loopholes allowing foreign operators to access Filipino players, so something had to be done. Like China, the Philippines has joined the fight against all illegal online gambling activities.

In February 2017, the country’s President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 13. It aims to clarify the extent of authority regarding the licensing and regulation of online gambling and remove all forms of illegal casinos and gambling.

In short, any online gambling operators which are not state-approved are considered illegal.

Are online gambling winnings taxable in the Philippines?

It can be confusing, as nothing says you should declare your gambling winnings and pay tax, but the government requires by law that all incomes are declared and taxed.

It is unclear how much tax you will have to pay on winnings, as it can be 10% on wins below PHP 10,000 or up to 20% for any winnings above.
There isn't any explicit information if this is mandatory, as many online gamblers within the country play large amounts of money on a daily basis without ever declaring it.

According to sources, if you have a set monthly income from a permanent job on which you pay tax, you are less likely to be followed up on.

Those who make online gambling their profession are required to declare their winnings, or they could face penalties and run into trouble with the law.

As with many other countries, the main rule is still that honesty is the best policy. If you don’t want to get into trouble with the law, it would be best to declare any winnings, especially big ones, when filing your tax returns.

Most taxes, however, are obtained from the operators, both online and on land.

Is online gambling legal in the Philippines?

Gambling online is legal, as long as you do it at any legally licensed online casinos. While the authorities seem more focused on hunting down operators rather than individual players, this could change at some point.

Especially now that the government seem set to tighten the regulations even further. For now, you, as a Filipino, can safely enjoy the best online gambling entertainment at any licensed online casino site.

Still, you should be aware of what the latest developments are. At the beginning of 2026, PAGCOR announced its plans to introduce stricter control on KYC procedures and a total ban on iGaming ads.

The region has been tackling increased black market activity, but is still struggling with it. So, even stricter control is to be expected.

And with the regulations being so strict, there is more assurance that these casinos are completely safe and fair, with 100% random outcomes on their games.

Before you rush to sign up, make sure you take a look at the list of top online casinos and make use of the welcome bonuses they offer.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Learn about our Review Process

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Last updated: April 2, 2026

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Philippines - online gambling regulations

Contents

Contents

History and laws of gambling in the Philippines

A quick fix by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Are online gambling winnings taxable in the Philippines?