Philippine Licensed Casino GGR Falls 9.64% in 1Q26 on Entertainment City Softness

Entertainment City Posted the Biggest Decline

Licensed casinos in the Philippines generated PHP44.53 billion during the first quarter. Revenue fell 9.64% from the same period last year. PAGCOR data showed Entertainment City caused most of the decline. The Manila casino area remains the country’s largest gaming market.

Entertainment City casinos produced PHP35.47 billion from January through March. That result fell 11.06% from PHP39.88 billion one year earlier. The lower revenue may reflect weaker tourism and slower player spending. Some operators could also face stronger competition across Asia.

Still, Entertainment City remained the country’s biggest casino area during the quarter. The district continues leading the Philippine gaming business.

Licensed Casinos Still Led the Market

Despite the decline, licensed casinos still generated most gaming revenue in the country. The sector produced 50.83% of total industry revenue. The Philippine gaming industry generated PHP87.60 billion during the quarter. Total industry revenue dropped 15.87% year-on-year.

Several gaming sectors reported lower revenue during the quarter:

• Entertainment City revenue fell 11.06%

• Clark casino revenue dropped 6.10%

• Fiesta casino revenue declined 6.75%

• Other licensees revenue fell 22.42%

• Greenfield Zone revenue increased 5.97%

The sharpest decline came from other licensees — including electronic games, bingo, and poker operations. That segment generated PHP39.90 billion during the quarter. One year earlier, revenue reached PHP51.43 billion.

Clark and Fiesta Casinos Also Slowed

Clark casinos generated PHP6.68 billion during the quarter. Revenue fell 6.10% from PHP7.12 billion last year. Fiesta casinos also reported weaker results during the same period. Revenue reached PHP298.13 million, down 6.75% year-on-year.

These declines were smaller than Entertainment City’s losses. Still, they showed weaker conditions across several casino markets. Some casino groups may now slow expansion plans or reduce spending. Others could focus more on foreign visitors and premium players.

Beyond Manila, regional casinos still face uneven recovery patterns after earlier growth periods. Rising costs may also pressure operators during 2026.

Greenfield Zone Was the Bright Spot

One casino segment avoided the wider market decline during the quarter. The Greenfield Zone reported modest yearly growth. Revenue rose 5.97% to PHP2.07 billion during the first quarter. One year earlier, the segment generated PHP1.96 billion.

The increase remained small beside larger casino markets. Still, the result gave operators one positive signal during a difficult quarter. Hence, some investors may watch Greenfield casinos more closely in coming months. Smaller markets sometimes react differently during slower economic periods.

For now, however, Entertainment City still drives the country’s casino business — and its slowdown may continue shaping Philippine gaming results through 2026.