House of Representatives passes second reading of POGO bill: up to 10 years imprisonment, 10 million fine!

The Philippine House of Representatives convened a plenary session on Monday afternoon and passed the "House Bill No. 10987" on second reading by oral vote. This bill aims to completely ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), prohibiting them from operating within the Philippines.

Bill Content

If the bill is ultimately passed, the following POGO-related activities will be deemed illegal:

Assisting POGO operations in any way or by any device;

Accepting any form of POGO bets;

Providing any support or services to POGO;

Leasing or selling property to POGO operators for business purposes;

Establishing or assisting in the establishment of POGO organizations;

Owning facilities or equipment related to POGO;

Any form of assistance, protection, or harboring of the above activities.

Penalty Measures

The bill stipulates strict penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of assets:

First offense: Imprisonment of 4-6 years and a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 pesos;

Second offense: Imprisonment of 6-8 years and a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 pesos;

Third and subsequent offenses: Imprisonment of 8-10 years and a fine of 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 pesos.

Furthermore, once convicted, all POGO assets (including buildings, equipment, materials, etc.) and their illegal income will be confiscated by the government.

Government Stance

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already expressed his support for a complete ban on POGO operations in his 2024 State of the Nation Address. This bill is seen as an important measure by the government to combat illegal gambling and maintain national security and economic order.