- PAGCOR’s Chairman Alejandro Tengco and board resigned following President Marcos’ May 22, 2025, call for a Cabinet reset after opposition wins in midterm elections.
- The move aims to realign government priorities, with PAGCOR facing pressure to privatize its casinos or shift to a regulatory-only role under a proposed PAGCOM.
- The resignations could disrupt PAGCOR’s operations but may lead to a more transparent gaming industry, with reforms potentially affecting how players access gambling.
Why the Resignations Happened
On May 22, 2025, President Marcos requested the courtesy resignations of all Cabinet secretaries after opposition candidates won key Senate seats in the midterm elections. He emphasized performance and urgency, stating, “The people have spoken, and they expect results, not politics, not excuses.”
PAGCOR’s leadership, including Tengco and directors Jose Maria Ortega, Francis Democrito Concordia, and Gilbert Cesar Remulla, complied by submitting their resignations the following week.
You can see why this matters: Marcos aims to realign the government with public expectations, and PAGCOR, a major revenue generator, is part of this overhaul.
What This Means for PAGCOR
PAGCOR, which regulates and operates casinos, generated a net income of PHP16.76 billion in 2024, up 146% from 2023. Despite this success, the resignations signal a shift, as Marcos evaluates performance across agencies.
Tengco noted that the move gives the President a “free hand” to reorganize the bureaucracy. For you, this could mean changes in how PAGCOR operates, especially as it faces calls to privatize its 47 casinos or transition to a purely regulatory role, as proposed by Congressman Jonathan Keith Flores.
The uncertainty might affect ongoing initiatives, like the recent closure of offshore gaming operations (POGOs) at Island Cove.
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Impact on the Philippine Gaming Industry
The resignations come at a critical time for PAGCOR, which has been under scrutiny for its dual role as regulator and operator.
Proposals to replace PAGCOR with a regulatory-only body, PAGCOM, aim to eliminate conflicts of interest and curb illegal activities like POGOs, linked to crimes such as human trafficking and scams.
This could lead to a more transparent gaming sector but might disrupt casino operations or online gambling platforms in the short term. The industry, expected to reach $10 billion in gross gaming revenue by 2027, faces pressure to balance growth with stricter oversight.
What’s Next for PAGCOR and the Philippines
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin will evaluate the resignations, with Marcos likely to retain high performers while replacing others. You might wonder how this will play out: will PAGCOR’s leadership return, or will new faces steer the agency?
The government’s focus on eliminating illegal POGOs and modernizing regulations, as Tengco outlined in 2023, suggests a push for reform. With the Senate’s new composition, expect debates on privatization and regulatory changes to intensify, potentially reshaping how you engage with gambling in the Philippines.
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