Philippines’ bets on digital connectivity to boost iGaming: Expert
The Philippine government’s approval of the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP) is set to reshape the operating environment for online industries, including iGaming, as improved nationwide internet access becomes a core pillar of economic and regulatory development.
Approved during the 7th Economy and Development (ED) Council Meeting on 26 January, the NDCP formalises the state’s commitment to making digital connectivity a national priority. The plan was confirmed as consistent with Executive Order No. 72, s. 2024, during the meeting chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Bahay Pangulo Pavilion in Manila.
For the Philippine iGaming sector, which relies on stable, fast, and secure internet access for operations, compliance, and player experience, an expert says that the NDCP has implications that extend beyond infrastructure into market expansion, player protection, and regulatory enforcement.
National connectivity targets and timelines
“The Philippines is moving full steam ahead toward a digital future,” the Department of Information and Communications Technology said in a press release. The NDCP is described as “the government’s strategic roadmap to ensure every Filipino has access to fast, reliable, and affordable internet by 2028.”
Under the plan, the government said it is targeting full connectivity across public institutions and communities, including “100 percent connectivity in all public schools, barangays, and health centres,” alongside the deployment of “130,000 Free Wi-Fi sites nationwide.” It also aims to create 8 million digital jobs and achieve a 40 to 80 percent reduction in internet costs.
The plan further outlines speed benchmarks intended to bring the Philippines closer to international standards, with targets to raise average broadband speeds to 225 Mbps for mobile and 275 Mbps for fixed broadband.
Closing the digital divide and economic gaps
Speaking with SiGMA News, Jonas Diego, a gaming industry veteran, highlighted how uneven access to connectivity continues to shape economic outcomes across the country. “The NDCP aims to accelerate broadband rollout, lower internet costs, and ensure reliable, secure, and inclusive digital access across the Philippines,” he said.
He added that its “ultimate goal is to close the digital divide and create a ‘Digitally Connected Philippines’ where connectivity is affordable, fast, and universally accessible.”
Diego warned that persistent connectivity gaps have wider consequences beyond consumer inconvenience. “Poor digital access in Philippine cities and municipalities widens inequality, slows local economic growth, weakens governance efficiency, and limits opportunities in education, health, and employment,” he said.
He described this dynamic as creating “a ‘digital poverty trap’ where communities without reliable internet fall behind in competitiveness and social inclusion.”
Implications for Philippine iGaming growth
Diego said improved nationwide connectivity could help iGaming operators expand their player base, boost retention with smoother experiences, and drive product innovation through mobile-first platforms, live betting, and immersive content.
He also noted that better connectivity can help improve player protection and responsible gambling, which are often overlooked in infrastructure discussions.
Connectivity gaps and black-market gambling
Diego argued that weak infrastructure has had unintended consequences for regulatory enforcement in the online gambling space. “Weak nationwide connectivity unintentionally strengthens black market online gambling in the Philippines by creating gaps that illegal operators exploit,” he said.
According to Diego, when licensed platforms face service disruptions, players may look elsewhere. “When legitimate platforms struggle to deliver reliable service, players often turn to unregulated alternatives that are easier to access, cheaper, or more resilient to poor infrastructure,” he explained.
He said these platforms are “typically offshore or underground platforms that use lighter, less secure systems optimized for low bandwidth.” In contrast to licensed operators, “black market operators often design platforms that work even on weak connections, using stripped-down apps or SMS-based betting.”
“This makes them more appealing in areas where legitimate platforms cannot function reliably,” Diego added.
Regulatory oversight and enforcement challenges
“But PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) and regulators depend on digital monitoring tools,” Diego told SiGMA News. “In areas with poor connectivity, enforcement is harder, allowing illegal operators to thrive unnoticed.”
He noted that the consequences extend to state revenues and consumer safety. “As a result, taxes and licensing fees are lost to offshore or underground operators, and users face fraud, lack of consumer protection, and exposure to predatory practices.”
Diego said this dynamic “is also bad for the gaming industry as a whole because it undermines legitimate operators, slowing industry growth.”
“While precise figures vary, it is estimated that the Philippines loses billions of pesos annually to black market gambling, with estimates suggesting that unregulated operators siphon off a significant share of online betting revenues,” he said, pointing to the scale of the issue.
NDCP as a regulatory enabler
The NDCP’s four core outcomes include strengthened governance, increased public and private investment, improved access to affordable connectivity, and enhanced network resiliency. Priority initiatives include the “completion of the National Fiber Backbone,” expansion of submarine cable landing sites, acceleration of next-generation mobile technologies, and targeted connectivity for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.
Aguda said the plan directly links infrastructure to competitiveness. “By improving connectivity governance, accelerating infrastructure rollout, and expanding access in underserved areas, the NDCP directly supports economic competitiveness, digital jobs, and more efficient delivery of government services,” he said.
Collaboration between regulators and operators
Diego stressed that infrastructure alone will not deliver results unless industry stakeholders adapt alongside it. “Both PAGCOR and operators need to collaborate in order to make the most of the National Digital Connectivity Plan,” he said.
He identified priority areas for cooperation, particularly “in the area of mobile-first optimisation (taking a leaf out of the black-market operator’s book), scalable infrastructure, cybersecurity and fraud prevention, and responsible gaming tools.”
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