MANILA, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Revenue for the Philippine

gambling industry could climb another 17% in 2025 on expected

growth in electronic gaming and for integrated resorts, the

country's gaming regulator chief said on Wednesday, after

surging to a record last year.

Gross gaming revenues could range between 450 billion

Philippine pesos and 480 billion Philippine pesos ($7.8 billion

to $8.3 billion) this year, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp

(Pagcor) Chairman Alejandro Tengco told reporters.

That compares with 410.5 billion pesos in 2024, an increase

of 25% from the previous year. Gross gaming revenues reflect the

total amount wagered by players minus their winnings.

A boost in gaming revenues could bolster the Philippine

government's public finances as Pagcor is obliged to transfer

the majority of its earnings to the national treasury.

Electronic gaming could also offset losses from offshore

gambling operators after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered

them to wind down operations at the end of 2024, Tengco said.

The online gambling industry emerged in the Philippines in

2016, and expanded rapidly as operators leveraged the country's

liberal gambling laws to target Chinese customers. Gambling is

illegal in China.

($1 = 57.8860 Philippine pesos)