Philippines announces: will continue to intensify the crackdown on illegal POGOs, guerrilla warfare becomes the norm!

The Philippine government has recently intensified its crackdown on illegal online gambling companies (POGOs), but the enforcement has become significantly more challenging as almost all remaining POGOs are of an illegal nature.

In December last year, the government announced the nationwide closure of all POGO centers, but in reality, many POGOs have not completely disappeared. Instead, they have gone underground and continue to operate using guerrilla tactics.

New survival mode for POGOs: more covert and more dispersed!

🔹 These small online gambling companies no longer cluster in offices but are dispersed to less noticeable locations such as resorts, apartments, residential communities, and gated communities, reducing the risk of detection.

🔹 Philippine President Marcos explicitly stated that without the involvement and protection of local government officials, especially village leaders, these POGOs could not possibly exist for long.

🔹 Law enforcement officers have found that the number of foreigners in some private resorts has unusually increased, and the volume of food deliveries has surged, both typical characteristics of underground POGO operations.

Key elements relied upon by illegal POGO operations:

✅ Stable internet: Without high-speed networks, real-time gambling transactions and customer management are impossible.

✅ Computer equipment: The gambling business requires a large number of computer terminals to support various operations.

✅ Foreign management + local Filipino staff: Foreigners usually manage operations, while local Filipino employees handle keyboard operations, data entry, and other basic tasks.

The government is intensifying sweeps, but POGOs still have room to survive!

Although the government is strengthening enforcement, the difficulty of cracking down on POGOs has increased due to their "guerrilla tactics." Moving forward, the Philippine government is expected to continue tightening policies, enhancing online surveillance, and increasing patrols of suspicious locations.

In summary, although POGOs have been officially cleaned up, they have not completely disappeared but have instead survived in a more covert manner. What follows is a tug-of-war between the government and underground POGOs, awaiting further developments!