Gaming Laboratories International is capitalising on a regulatory inflection point in the Philippines, using its newly acquired Independent Testing Laboratory accreditation from PAGCOR to establish itself as a central player in the regulator’s evolving oversight framework for online gaming operators.

The accreditation, granted earlier this year, makes GLI the first testing firm to achieve that status with the Philippine regulator. It arrives at a pivotal moment: PAGCOR is implementing tightened controls designed to professionalise the domestic online sector, including new B2B supplier frameworks, minimum guaranteed fees for operators, and stricter limits on promotional incentives.

Regulation as Opportunity

Richard Howarth, GLI’s Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, frames this regulatory tightening not as a constraint but as an expansion of the testing company’s remit. As operators adapt to stricter compliance requirements and PAGCOR builds out its enforcement infrastructure, the work available to accredited testing firms multiplies in both scope and complexity.

GLI’s advantage lies partly in timing, partly in strategy. The company has positioned itself deliberately as an early mover in regulated markets, establishing relationships with regulators before competitive pressure intensifies. In the Philippines, this translates into a dual role: servicing operators seeking compliance certification while simultaneously advising PAGCOR on iGaming standards and implementation. That advisory relationship, Howarth indicates, operates on both conversational and formal training levels.

The business logic is straightforward. Regulated markets create more sustainable conditions for operators. Taxes flow to government coffers and get reinvested; responsible gambling enforcement and anti-money laundering protocols improve; the reputational risks of operating in grey zones diminish. For a testing laboratory, regulation creates constant demand for certifications, audits, and compliance verification.

Cybersecurity as Growth Vector

Beyond traditional testing services, GLI is extending its regional strategy through GLI Secure, a bundled offering covering cybersecurity assessments, audit services, and governance frameworks. The service targets a genuine market pain point: the rising frequency of cyberattacks on gaming operators across Asia-Pacific.

Howarth points to a case study presented at Regulating the Game in March. A major casino operator suffered a 10-plus day outage following a sophisticated hack, inflicting substantial financial damage. The incident underscores a secondary concern operators must now manage: continuity planning. How does an operation function if data integrity is compromised? How do teams investigate breach scope and severity while maintaining service availability?

These operational questions sit at the intersection of cybersecurity and business resilience. GLI Secure positions itself to address both through data security audits, accreditations, and breach response frameworks. For PAGCOR and Philippine operators, the service represents insurance against the kind of reputational and financial devastation that extended outages create.

As the Philippine regulator continues reshaping the online gaming landscape, GLI’s position appears firmly entrenched across multiple service lines.

What the team thinks

BAZ HARTLEY: Philippa’s piece highlights something crucial for players, though it’s buried in the regulatory mechanics. When testing firms like GLI get accredited, standards tighten across the board, which means better RTP transparency and fairer bonus terms. That’s a genuine win for consumers in a market that’s historically been murky.

SHEENA McALLISTER: Absolutely, Baz, and from a compliance angle, this accreditation signals PAGCOR is moving toward a more robust oversight model. GLI’s involvement raises the bar for all operators, similar to what we saw with UKGC tightening requirements in 2020. The question now is whether other testing labs will follow suit, which would create real competitive pressure on standards.

BAZ HARTLEY: That’s the critical bit, Sheena. If GLI becomes the only accredited testing firm, operators might use that as a selling point while cutting corners elsewhere. We need to see more labs getting accredited to prevent a monopoly that could actually stifle innovation. The real consumer benefit comes from competition among testers, not concentration.

SHEENA McALLISTER: Fair point, and Philippa could have pressed harder on that risk. What intrigues me is how this fits into PAGCOR’s broader enforcement strategy. If they’re simultaneously tightening online controls while elevating testing standards, that suggests they’re preparing for regulated market consolidation. That’s smart policy, but operators need clarity on the transition timeline.