Published May 16, 2026 3:59pm + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. The Philippine gaming industry saw a double-digit decline in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of weaker performance of the electronic gaming sector due to softer spending brought about by high inflation amid the Middle East fuel crisis.In a statement on Saturday, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said the country's gaming space booked a total of P87.60 billion in gross gaming revenues (GGR) during the January to March period, down 15.87% from P104.12 billion year-on-year."We attribute the first quarter dip to several factors, including softer discretionary spending amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and rising inflationary pressures," said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco.In particular, the first quarter GGR decline was driven by the "weaker performance of the electronic gaming sector," which include E-Games, E-Bingo, bingo and poker posting a combined 22.43% year-on-year decline.During the period, licensed casinos surpassed the e-games sector as the largest GGR contributor as it generated P44.52 billion or 50.83% of the total GGR.The electronic gaming sector, meanwhile, accounted for P39.90 billion or 45.55% of the GGR pie.The remaining 3.62% or P3.17 billion of the GGR was contributed by PAGCOR-operated casinos."We remain hopeful that once the geopolitical tensions stabilize, consumer confidence and discretionary spending will also gradually recover, which should help support improved industry performance," said Tengco. — VDV, GMA News