PAGCOR says regulatory framework must evolve with AI

Regulators should not stand in the way of innovation but ensure that it takes place within a market that is fair, responsible and transparent

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has underscored the need for the gaming industry’s regulatory framework to keep pace with rapid technological developments, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).

PAGCOR Electronic Gaming Licensing Department Assistant Vice President Atty. Jessa Mariz Fernandez emphasised the point during her keynote speech at the CiG iDEA Summit held at Hilton Manila Ballroom at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.

Atty. Fernandez said the growing use of AI presents both opportunities and challenges for gaming regulators.

“The same technology that can help us detect fraud, identify unusual activity, improve compliance, and make regulatory processes more efficient can also be used to make fraud more sophisticated and harder to detect,” she said. “The challenge, therefore, is not to resist technology. It is to ensure that our regulatory frameworks evolve alongside it.”

Amid the rapidly changing tech environment, Atty. Fernandez said PAGCOR continues to review its policies, engage with legitimate industry stakeholders and strengthen coordination with other government agencies to make regulation more effective.

The state gaming regulator also remains open to new approaches that could improve its regulatory framework and make it more responsive to increasingly complex risks, she said.

“We cannot regulate tomorrow’s technology using only yesterday’s assumptions,” Atty. Fernandez said. “The future of online gaming will undoubtedly be shaped by technology. It must be responsive without being reactionary. It must encourage innovation without losing sight of responsibility. It must protect consumers without unnecessarily restricting legitimate enterprise. And it must preserve the integrity of the regulated market even as new technologies, new business models, and new risks emerge.”

Atty. Fernandez said regulators should not stand in the way of innovation but should ensure that it takes place within a market that is fair, responsible and transparent, and one that earns and maintains public trust.

The CiG iDEA Summit is part of the week-long Inside Asian Gaming Expo, which brings together gaming industry stakeholders for discussions, leadership gatherings and networking activities.

Other ranking PAGCOR officials who attended the event were President and Chief Operating Officer Wilma Eisma and Senior Vice President for Land-Based Operations Sector Daniel Cecilio.