The Chairman clarified that the country has approximately 10 million active online gambling users—significantly lower than the previously cited 3200 million total registrations. Officials attributed the 22 million gap to the industry's common practice of "multiple accounts per user."

More concerning is Pagcor's admission that only 55% to 60% of platforms are currently regulated, leaving nearly 40% operating illegally. In response, Pagcor announced the upcoming launch of an AI-powered monitoring tool designed to detect and block illegal websites in real-time.

The Philippines is currently in a regulatory transition, with all iGaming service providers required to secure official accreditation by March 31, 2026. As the "delinking" of e-wallets has already led to a sharp decline in gaming revenue, regulators face mounting pressure to balance economic contributions with social safeguards.