State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) posted its record revenue haul in the first three-months of the year on the back of sustained recovery of the local gaming industry following the pandemic. In a statement, Alejandro Tengco, Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer, said the gaming regulator’s revenues hit P17.7 billion in January to March, 43 percent higher compared with P12.4 billion in the same period last year. Pagcor’s gaming operations expanded by 49 percent at end-March to P16.87 billion from P11.29 billion a year earlier. “The local gaming industry picked up from where it left off in 2022, and this is good news for our mandated beneficiaries as it means bigger remittances from us this year,” Tengco said. With Pagcor’s latest income feat, the agency was able to infuse P10.98 billion to nation-building, a 50 percent jump from P7.29 billion in the first quarter of 2022. In accordance with the Pagcor Charter and other governing laws, P843.87 million or five percent of the agency’s total income, went to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as franchise tax. The remaining half of Pagcor’s revenues after tax, or P8 billion was remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury as government share. The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), meanwhile, received P15 million. Pagcor also remitted a P400.84 million to the Philippine Sports Commission to fund the training and preparation of the national athletes for various major international sports competitions. Moreover, Pagcor contributed P8.19 million as national athletes and coaches benefits and incentives. The agency also made huge contributions to the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice (P12.16 million), the government’s socio-civic programs and its own corporate social responsibility projects (P1.58 billion) and the cities hosting Casino Filipino (P112.92 million).