The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) limits the amount of cashback and rebate offers that can be utilized by online gaming operators for the purpose of acquiring and maintaining customers.
Under new regulations, which took effect on May 7, 2019, PAGCOR has established limits on the amount of cashback and rebates that online gaming operators may offer in order to entice and retain customers.
This action is intended to provide additional safeguards against larger operators utilizing their resources to monopolize their respective markets, by removing consumer loyalty as a function of how much the bigger companies are willing to spend to induce and maintain their loyalty through cashback and rebate incentives.
PAGCOR further stated, that licensed platforms are aggressively competing for loyalty by providing extraordinarily lucrative promotional offerings and fully developed loyalty programmes.
In the conclusion of their announcement regarding the new regulations, PAGCOR stated that these rules shall prevent “destructive competition” and “race to the bottom” practices, which will ultimately destroy the integrity of the gaming industry.
The implementation of this new regulation further supports PAGCOR’s ongoing strategy to enhance the regulatory framework that governs iGaming. According to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, iGaming had increased in total GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) to an estimated 50% or more of all GGR reported as of 2025, surpassing the casino industry as the largest contributor of GGR.
