"Growth this year will be driven by online casinos, Domingo said. "We are looking at doubling [Philippine offshore gaming operators] and electronic-gaming," she said.
The Philippines has promoted offshore gaming under President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, which wants to raise more revenue while managing the proliferation of casinos in the predominantly Catholic nation. Only gamblers abroad can bet in Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs.
Philippines currently hosts 53 POGOs, which are dominated by Chinese operators. Last year, the government earned 3.9 billion pesos from fees, an amount poised to double this year, Domingo told industry stakeholders during her speech at the summit organized by Asia Gaming Brief.
The Philippines has the goal of becoming a major gaming destination in Asia, although Duterte has struck a balance between accommodating casino investments and preventing local gambling addiction.