On September 12, the Philippine Senate held a hearing on the Anti-POGO Bill and the Anti-Online Gambling Bill, here is an exclusive summary of the meeting content organized by Bo Le Headlines:

Date: Thursday, September 12

Topics: Anti-POGO Bill and Anti-Online Gambling Bill

I. CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority)

1. Head of CEZA, Katrina Ponce Enrile stated: Supports the ban on POGO/IGL, but requests to retain the power and authority to issue gambling licenses by CEZA.

2. CEZA and PAGCOR are distinctly different, as follows:

1) CEZA allows foreign companies to operate in the Philippines, whereas PAGCOR only allows companies registered in the Philippines.

2) CEZA is purely a regulatory body, while PAGCOR both regulates and operates, focusing on issuing licenses and regulation.

3) Gambling allowed in the CEZA area includes only service providers and IT support companies, not betting companies.

4) CEZA has its own network service providers, but PAGCOR does not. CEZA's network providers can control and block betting links.

5) Since the establishment of CEZA, no crimes have occurred.

3. Supports the Anti-POGO Bill and the Anti-Online Gambling Bill.

II. BATAAN Island

1. Fully supports the prohibition of POGO. Anti-POGO Bill and Anti-Online Gambling Bill.

2. The head of AFAB licensing stated that there are no POGOs in BATAAN, only SCBPO.

3. AFAB has three of its own network providers.

III. Clark

1. Only one gambling company remains in Clark (Company name: Onyo Tech). Clark has suspended new applications for POGO and service providers as of June 8, 2023.

IV. Regarding the EO Executive Order for the complete prohibition of POGO

1. PAOCC stated: The executive order will be issued within 2 weeks, and the initial draft has been prepared.

2. The gambling ban is clear, the biggest issue is how to implement the executive order.

3. The chairman of PAGCOR mentioned that the executive order includes the remaining 41 IGLs. Whether SCBPO and GCP are included in the executive order is not yet determined, as they are unsure what the actual work/activities of this category are.

4. PAGCOR has suspended all new SCBPO applications, waiting for the executive order to be issued.

5. The foreign to Filipino ratio in SCBPO = 1:10

6. PAGCOR emphasizes that regulation is better than banning POGO, as direct prohibition might drive POGO underground.

7. Senator Gatchalian believes: The revenue from PIGO and offline casinos can cover the income POGO provides to the Philippine government.

V. PNP NBI

1. PNP wants to ban PIGO, which has had a negative impact on Filipinos.

2. NBI believes POGO might shift towards PIGO, as the operational methods are the same

VI. Attending IGL companies include

1. Microinfo Systems: stated it will close by the end of the year

2. Avantiser: stated it will close by the end of the year

3. Caspo: stated it will close by the end of the year

4. First Orient International Ventures Corp. (Eastern Palawan Island), will submit a formal license cancellation application on November 15, and will close by the end of the year.

VII. Interview with Senator Gatchalian

1. We will enact a law to ban POGO, so that no future president can allow POGO to operate in the Philippines.

2. The government will explore the possibility of PIGO as an alternative to POGO and how to regulate it. PIGO could provide potential income for the Philippines. Further regulation of PIGO is needed to avoid the mistakes made by POGO in the past.

3. Further research on SCBPO is needed.

4. The upcoming law will prohibit companies that bet from abroad.

5. If there are companies wanting to register as GCP, and these companies are not restricted by the POGO/IGL ban, then the foreign to Filipino ratio needs to be: 5% foreign, 95% Filipino.

6. The 3 Anti-POGO bills will be merged into 1, to be issued within 2 weeks.

Note: According to the tone of the hearing, the Senate and other institutions are more favorable towards SCBPO, and may reconsider whether to include it in the ban; companies registered as GCP may not be restricted by the POGO/IGL ban, but the employee ratio requirements are strict; the final ban on POGO will be issued within 2 weeks.