TLDR
- PAGCOR delayed its new minimum guaranteed fee system for online gaming operators by two months, from April 1 to June 1, 2026
- The regulator cited the current economic crisis in the Philippines as the reason for the deferment
- Gaming system administrators with electronic casino games will face a monthly minimum fee of PHP9 million (about $149,000)
- The second tranche of fees has also been pushed back from October 2026 to January 2027
- There are currently 65 accredited gaming system administrators listed on PAGCOR’s regulatory website
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp has postponed the launch of its new minimum guaranteed fee system for online gaming operators by two months. The fees were originally set to begin on April 1 but will now take effect on June 1, 2026.
PAGCOR said the delay was approved by its board on March 26. The decision was outlined in a memo released on Monday.
The regulator pointed to what it described as the current economic crisis in the Philippines as the reason for the deferment. The country has reportedly been rolling out energy-saving measures, including a four-day workweek for some state employees.
The new fee structure applies to gaming system administrators, which operate within the country’s electronic gaming framework. All types of gaming system administrators are affected by the revised timeline.
What the New Fee Schedule Looks Like
Under the updated plan, the first tranche of minimum guaranteed fees will run from June 1 to December 31, 2026. That replaces the original window of April 1 to September 30.
For gaming system administrators that offer electronic casino games, the monthly minimum guaranteed fee will be PHP9 million. That works out to roughly $149,000. The fee applies when gross gaming revenue hits at least PHP30 million for the month.
Operators without electronic casino games face a lower threshold. Their monthly minimum guaranteed fee will be PHP3 million, kicking in when gross gaming revenue reaches at least PHP15 million.
These thresholds tie the fee obligation directly to monthly revenue performance. If revenue falls below the set level, the minimum fee structure adjusts accordingly.
The second tranche of fees has also been shifted. It was originally set to begin on October 1, 2026, but will now start on January 1, 2027.
Under that phase, gaming system administrators with electronic casino games will need to pay a monthly minimum guaranteed fee of PHP10.5 million. That applies when gross gaming revenue reaches at least PHP35 million for the month.
65 Operators Now on PAGCOR’s Books
As of March 19, PAGCOR’s regulatory website listed 65 accredited gaming system administrators. That number gives a sense of the scale of the sector affected by the revised timetable.
The fee system was first announced in December. It was initially supposed to take effect on April 1, 2024, but was delayed before being rescheduled for April 1, 2026.
Now, both tranches have been pushed further into 2026 and 2027. The fee amounts and revenue thresholds themselves have not changed.
PAGCOR did not provide further details beyond the economic crisis explanation. The memo did not say whether additional delays are possible.
For gaming operators in the Philippines, the delay gives them two extra months before the first round of minimum payments begins. The second phase will follow seven months later in January 2027.
The fee structure remains intact as originally designed. Only the start dates have been adjusted.
PAGCOR’s latest memo confirmed the revised schedule applies to all categories of gaming system administrators operating under its regulatory framework.
