Pacific Online stepping away from online gambling

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

February 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Listed Pacific Online Systems Corp., a subsidiary of the SM Group’s Belle Corp., is stepping away from the online gambling business.

Pacific Online, in a stock exchange filing, announced its divestment from HHR Philippines Inc. (HHRPI), the operator  of online gaming platform Buenas PH, “because of the firm policy adopted by the national government against the licensing of online betting platforms.”

Pacific Online disclosed in January 2025 that it would acquire a 37.5-percent stake in HHRPI.

“The company and HHRPI have mutually agreed to revisit their investment arrangement and unwind the same, with a private third-party investor agreeing to assume the rights and obligations of the company from its HHRPI investment,” Pacific Online said.

“With this unwinding, the company will cease to be a shareholder of record of HHRPI as soon as certain regulatory compliances are complied with,” it said.

Pacific Online said the unwinding of its investment in HHRPI is not expected to have any significant impact on the company’s financials, given that HHRPI is still in the early operation stage.

HHRPI is a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.-licensed provider of electronic gaming software and professional services.

In a separate disclosure, Pacific Online said it would also discontinue its electronic lotto or “e-lotto” project with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

PCSO awarded in 2024 a P4.09-billion, five-year contract for the lease provision of a web-based app for the e-lotto system to Pacific Online.

“Subsequent to the issuance of the notice of award, as an offshoot of the controversies that arose involving other online gaming variants like e-sabong and the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations or POGO, the national government eventually adopted a firm policy against the continuation of the licensing of all forms of online betting platforms,” Pacific Online said.

“With this reversal in policy, the implementation of PCSO’s e-Lotto was placed on a prolonged suspended animation,” it said.

Due to such developments and recognizing that the national government’s policy will no longer be reversed, Pacific Online said its board has ordered that its involvement in e-lotto be unwound.

Pacific Online said it would instead refocus its efforts and resources on other available, more feasible opportunities.

Pacific Online is engaged in the development and management of online computer systems, terminals and software for the country’s lottery industry.

It provides technical and market expertise for the distribution of lottery products in partnership with the state-run PCSO.