Tengco announced plans to spin off the casino business to a private bidder and expand the regulatory reach of the organization during his leadership. He discussed these plans at the ASEAN Gaming Summit, where he served as the keynote speaker. The welfare of employees during any transition is a top priority for the Pagcor board.
For 2023, Pagcor has several projects in the works aimed at benefiting gaming industry stakeholders and promoting responsible gaming. These include creating regulatory frameworks for online poker operations, improving slot machine operations, disposing of outdated gaming equipment, and developing new regulatory manuals.
Tengco addressed the issue of offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which had sparked public debate in 2022. He mentioned that the regulator revised its policies for online gaming and increased monitoring efforts to ensure compliance with the law. POGOs are Philippines-based gaming businesses that offer Pagcor-licensed online gaming services in jurisdictions where it’s not regulated, notably China. The existence of underground POGOs has caused tensions between the Philippines and China due to their involvement in criminal activities.
Tengco acknowledged past enforcement failings and mentioned collaboration with various government bodies to improve the fight against unlicensed gambling. Partnerships with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation have been strengthened to address illegal gambling more effectively.
Pagcor aims to expand its game offerings and products domestically to include live dealer games, esports, online horse racing, and online arcade games.
