TLDR PAGCOR’s new minimum guaranteed fee leaves more than 60% of licensed online gaming system administrators below the country’s revenue benchmarks Philippine online gross gaming revenue fell 31% year on year to about $1.19 billion in the first half of 2026 The fee floor took effect July 1, 2026, and will rise again on January 1, 2027 Existing gaming accreditations are selling for between $3 million and $15 million due to a freeze on new licenses Any change in ownership requires approval from the PAGCOR Board and a full background review
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has introduced a new fee rule for online gaming operators. The change is already reshaping the country’s regulated gambling market.
According to Arden Consult, a legal and regulatory advisory firm, more than 60% of licensed online gaming system administrators are now operating below the new revenue benchmarks.
The firm based its findings on second quarter run rates from 2026. It said the new fee structure works as a market selection tool, not just an added cost.
Arden Consult estimated that Philippine online gross gaming revenue reached about $1.19 billion in the first half of 2026. That figure is down 31% compared with the same period last year.
How the New Fee Rules Work
The first phase of the minimum guaranteed fee, or MGF, began on July 1, 2026. It will stay in place through the end of the year.
Operators offering electronic casino games must pay either PAGCOR’s percentage based regulatory fee or a flat PHP9 million, about $147,000, each month. That fee is tied to a monthly revenue benchmark of PHP30 million, or $489,000.
Operators without electronic casino games face a lower threshold. They must pay a PHP3 million, or $49,000, minimum fee if they meet a PHP15 million,