PAGCOR Sets Monthly Minimum Fees for Gaming System Administrators

Tighter cost rules are coming for licensed gaming suppliers in the Philippines, with new monthly payment floors now locked into the regulatory framework.

Good to Know

• New minimum guaranteed fees start April 1, 2026
• Fees apply to all PAGCOR accredited gaming system administrators
• Payment levels depend on game type and monthly GGR thresholds

A new fee structure will soon reshape how gaming system administrators operate in the Philippines. According to a December 15 memo from the Electronic Gaming Licensing Department of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, all accredited gaming system administrators, commonly known as GSAs, must begin paying a monthly minimum guaranteed fee starting April 1, 2026.

The rule applies across the board. GSAs offering electronic casino games fall under the policy, and so do those without electronic casino content. The directive follows approval at a PAGCOR board meeting held on December 4.

Regulators framed the change as a structural fix. The memo said the updated framework aims to close gaps in the existing fee model while reinforcing fairness, accountability, and fiscal responsibility across the regulated gaming sector.

Officials also positioned the measure as part of a broader cleanup of how licensed suppliers contribute to public revenue. The regulator described the minimum monthly fee as a necessary reform to ensure all GSAs contribute equitably, operate transparently, and align with a more sustainable and integrity driven gaming industry.

Earlier this year, GSAs operated under a different designation. Up to April, the same companies were classified as gaming system service providers, a label that reflected a lighter and more fragmented fee approach.

The December guidance went out to both gaming system administrators and gaming venue operators, signaling coordinated enforcement across the supplier and operator layers of the market.

How the Fee Structure Works

PAGCOR divided the new payment model into two phases, with different thresholds depending on whether a GSA offers electronic casino games.

During the first phase, running from April 1 through September 30, 2026, GSAs with electronic casino games must pay a monthly minimum guaranteed fee of PHP9 million. That obligation applies when monthly gross gaming revenue reaches at least PHP30 million.

GSAs without electronic casino games face a lower entry point during the same period. Those operators must pay PHP3 million per month once monthly gross gaming revenue hits PHP15 million.

A second phase begins October 1, 2026, raising both revenue benchmarks and required payments.

From that date, GSAs offering electronic casino games must pay PHP10.5 million per month, provided monthly gross gaming revenue reaches PHP35 million.

GSAs without electronic casino games will be required to pay PHP4 million per month if monthly gross gaming revenue reaches at least PHP20 million.

FAQ

Who must pay the new minimum guaranteed fees?

All PAGCOR accredited gaming system administrators, including those with and without electronic casino games.

When do the new fees start?

The first phase begins April 1, 2026, with higher thresholds applying from October 1, 2026.

Do fees apply if revenue stays below the threshold?

No. Minimum guaranteed fees apply only once the specified monthly gross gaming revenue levels are reached.

Why did PAGCOR introduce this change?

The regulator said the goal is to close fee structure gaps, ensure fair contributions, and support a more accountable gaming industry.

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