iGaming in the Philippines: The Next Big Bet

The sector of iGaming in the Philippines is experiencing explosive growth: with industry revenue growing by 165% over 2024, the sector is poised to hit the PHP 171 billion ($3 billion) mark this year. Thanks to a unique regulatory landscape, a tech-savvy population, and a deep-rooted gambling culture, the country offers a lucrative opportunity for performance marketing.

Let’s find out the legal status of gambling in the Philippines and how to launch effective Ad campaigns that cater to the local audience.

General info about the Philippines

Source: vecteezy

The Philippines is a tropical archipelago of 7,641 islands in Southeast Asia. It is home to 116 million people, making it the world’s 14th-biggest country by population. The country is very attractive for digital advertisers: 70% of the residents are under 35, and their median age is just 26!

Now, a sneak peek into demographics:

The average monthly salary in the Philippines in 2025 is 44,800 PHP ($780 monthly).
The Philippines is Asia's largest English-speaking nation (92% of the urban population is fluent in English).

While more than 78% of Filipinos are Catholic, there's surprising openness to gambling content compared to other religious markets.
Quezon, Makati, Manila, Pasig, and Taguig are the wealthiest cities. Manila and Cebu are the capitals of Filipino gambling.

From a cultural standpoint, the Philippines has always been a fruitful land for the gambling industry – they love betting and games!

Filipinos are into sports betting: basketball and sabong (cockfighting) attract 10 million+ weekly bettors. 41,5% of people in the Philippines participate in lottery/games of chance (Powerball, bingo, etc.). Also, Esports now rivals traditional sports in viewership, not to mention the popularity of online casinos with live dealers and slots.

With its population being so young and tech-savvy, it is no wonder that Filipinos’ digital behavior creates perfect conditions for mobile CPA advertising:

In Q1 2025, 83.8% (97.5 mln) of the Philippines used the Internet.
142 million cellular mobile connections were active in the Philippines in early 2025 (122% of the total population)! Hence, one person may have several SIM cards, but note that not all provide internet access.
78% of the total population uses social media.
The median mobile internet download speed via cellular data networks is 35.56 Mbps.

It should be noted that most Filipinos use Android devices, but iOS smartphones are not that widespread. A curious fact is that the majority of mobile users are women.

Source: start.io

Popular verticals for CPA marketing in the Philippines

The Filipino audience is becoming more digitized and actively embraces online shopping, which partially contributes to the rise of the following verticals:

E-commerce and dropshipping. Beauty and gadgets make up 62% of social commerce revenue. Filipinos often buy religious items and local snacks.
Fintech & loans. Over 18 million Filipinos use apps like Tala & GCash Borrow to get nano-loans.
Mobile apps. Downloads of hyper-casual games dominate, and utility apps (like cleaners and VPNs) are also in high demand.
Sweepstakes & giveaways. Filipinos are susceptible to such offers and readily participate in Telegram-based activities and surveys.
Dating & live streaming. Booming niches are Christian dating and live streams on the Kumu platform.
Nutra & wellness. Supplements and medications (anti-fungal drops, parasite cleansers, testosterone boosters, etc.) are quite popular among Filipinos. Pro tip: Discreet packaging works better.

Last but not least is iGaming. Let’s delve into this niche and discover ways to unleash its potential.

The legal status of gambling in the Philippines

Unlike many Asian markets where iGaming operates in a legal gray zone, the Philippines has a well-defined regulatory framework. Starting from the age of 21, it is legal to play in licensed gambling houses, and the same applies to online platforms. The only exception to this rule is that local land-based casinos are not allowed to offer their online services to residents of the Philippines.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) operates offline and online gambling businesses, ensuring that operators and players are protected. Demand for licensed sites has risen after the recent shutdown of offshore POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators). The government has now set its sights on local operators and tech-based gaming.

Why the iGaming boom will continue

According to Statista, the revenue of the Philippine gambling market is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 2.18%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$4.67 billion by 2029. This becomes possible thanks to the following combination of factors:

Fast mobile adoption. With increasing smartphone penetration and a young, tech-literate population, apps offering seamless live betting and instant-play slots cater perfectly to this on-the-go audience
The cultural disposition toward gambling. From sabong (cockfighting) to basketball betting, gambling is deeply embedded in local traditions. Younger players are shifting this passion online, fueling demand for digital casinos and esports wagering.
Regulatory tailwinds. With PAGCOR reducing taxes for the eGames sector from 55% to 30% (since January 2025) and cracking down on illegal operators, the Philippines represents a stable environment where legitimate advertisers and operators can scale safely.
Untapped regional potential. While neighboring countries restrict online gambling, the Philippines’ open regulatory stance positions it as the iGaming hub for Southeast Asia, attracting both players and investment.

It goes without saying that cryptocurrency payments are also on the rise, providing an alternative for users who face banking restrictions.

To buy quality traffic, advertisers should focus on advertising formats that resonate with Filipino users:

Popunders blend seamlessly with local content, such as sports betting tips or sabong, and perform well.
InPage ads convert exceptionally well as they blend seamlessly with local sports/news sites while avoiding the high block rates of popunders.
Push notifications achieve exceptional open rates when promoting time-sensitive casino bonuses.
Native ads are a great way to promote your games because Filipino players haven’t developed ‘banner blindness’ yet – they react well to bright and colorful ads.

Besides, ad bids in the Philippines are pretty competitive, making this GEO an affordable testing ground for advertising. At EVADAV, CPC for InPage ads is around $0.025, and CPM for popunders is $1.60. However, as more operators recognize the market’s potential, these prices may rise by 20-30% in the coming years.

DOs and DON’Ts in Filipino Ads

The famous Filipino hospitality ("pakikisama") translates to digital spaces: users are more receptive to engaging with ads when they feel personalized. First, don’t hesitate to use local symbols (sampaguita flowers, pearl, eagle), and mascots (tiger, panda). Second, remember that feast culture is thriving there, so you can launch bonus campaigns and expect seasonal traffic peaks during Christmas (September-January), Sinulog Festival (January), and other holidays.

Since lotteries and raffles are among the nation’s favorite gaming activities, giveaways could help you attract a large chunk of the audience (maybe even those who don’t usually gamble online).

It is crucial to highlight available payment gateways. The most widely used methods are GCash, PayMaya, Dragonpay, and GrabPay. Regarding eWallets, Filipinos prefer Neteller, Skrill, and EcoPayz. Credit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, and PayPal are also supported.

As for restrictions, Filipino creatives should not include government symbols (flags, national emblems) or religious figures (for example, Santo Niño). They are also not allowed to write the names of governmental ministries and agencies. The only exception to this rule is stating that a platform is PAGCOR licensed.

Ready to step into the Philippine iGaming market?

The Philippines offers one of the most lucrative opportunities in iGaming today, but success requires the right traffic sources, ad optimization, and local market know-how. That's where EVADAV Traffic Group comes in, providing:

👉 Access to the best ad publishers in the Philippines. We work with top-tier gaming, sports, and entertainment sites in the Philippines, ensuring high-quality traffic that converts.
👉 Proven ad formats. From InPage to Popunders, you can experiment with the best-performing solutions tailored for the Filipino audience.
👉Dedicated VIP manager support. Need assistance with creatives, targeting, or optimization? We’ve covered you at every step of your ad campaign – from setup to scaling.

You can access 24/7 client care chat or contact your dedicated account manager in your Admin Panel!
We speak your language and will help you run effective campaigns and achieve your goals.

🚀 Launch your campaign today and conquer the Filipino iGaming market!

The Philippine GEO is a goldmine for performance marketing with its quickly growing iGaming market, involved audience, legal support, and affordable CPC/CPM rates. Don’t wait for a perfect moment – start exploring this niche now! Even if you haven’t worked with Filipino traffic before, EVADAV will help you set up ideal ad campaigns and provide quality support whenever needed.