On July 22, Philippine President Marcos announced during his State of the Nation Address in Manila that the establishment of new Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will be immediately prohibited due to their alleged involvement in criminal activities.
This decision was made following a Senate investigation into illegal POGO-related activities and increasing pressure to address the issue.
In his speech, Marcos accused POGOs of engaging in "activities unrelated to gaming such as financial fraud, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and even murder."
"The serious abuse and disrespect of our legal system must stop," he emphasized.
POGOs, also known as Internet Gaming License holders (IGLs), are required by the government to cease operations by the end of the year.
The Philippine government recently conducted several inspections of illegal POGO sites in Pampanga and Tarlac, which are allegedly involved in human trafficking and fraud activities. This crackdown was supported by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority.
In contrast, the chairman and CEO of PAGCOR previously advocated for better regulation rather than a complete ban, suggesting that stricter supervision could effectively control illegal POGO operations. Last year, PAGCOR implemented a comprehensive re-licensing process, reducing the number of licensed IGLs from 298 to 43 to strengthen control over the industry.
Despite these regulatory efforts, the decision to ban new POGOs and phase out existing ones received strong support. This measure was applauded during the president's speech. Prior to this announcement, President Marcos had remained silent on calls to ban POGOs.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has also taken steps to combat illegal POGO activities by creating a special task force dedicated to identifying and dismantling such operations. In response to the closure actions, the president directed the Department of Labor and Employment to collaborate with economic managers to find new job opportunities for those unemployed due to the POGO shutdown.
