This afternoon, Xiao Ma issued an executive order to ban POGO operations! It demands an immediate prohibition of Philippine offshore gaming, including online gambling and other offshore gaming businesses!
With this executive order, all relevant government departments will refer to it for arrests and convictions.
Reviewing the entire executive order, the subjects of the ban include:
1. Philippine offshore gaming operators refer to entities that provide and participate in offshore gaming services. The term POGO used in this order should include: POGO license holders, which are officially licensed and authorized by PAGCOR to provide offshore gaming services;
POGO gaming agents, which are representatives of offshore license holders in the Philippines;
POGO service providers, which are formally established commercial companies in the Philippines that provide components of offshore gaming operations, such as strategic support providers, IT support providers, live studios, and streaming providers, gaming software platform providers.
2. Offshore gaming operations/services, which refer to online gambling provided directly to foreign players outside the Philippines through the internet or online, limited to live electronic casino (e-casino) games, online random number generator (RNG) games, and online sports betting. This definition does not include online gambling conducted in casinos operated by PAGCOR, licensed casinos, or integrated resorts with intermediary agreements.
Regarding this order, offshore gaming services/operations (POGOS) include:
1. Internet gambling license holders, which are Philippine or foreign enterprises licensed to consumers, specifically targeting overseas/foreign players, offering or conducting online gambling products limited to live electronic casino games, online RNG games, and online sports betting.
The term IGL used in this order includes:
a: Local gambling agents. These are well-established, reputable, and financially sound formal businesses in the Philippines, representing foreign IGL license holders;
b: Authorized gambling content providers or authorized support providers. These are formally established companies in the Philippines that provide components of internet gambling operations.
2. Other offshore gambling license holders, which refer to other offshore gambling operators, whether organized within or outside the Philippines, that have obtained legal licenses and authorizations to conduct offshore gambling business, including accepting bets from offshore customers. These licenses are authorized by their respective statutes and are supervised and/or governed by PAGCOR (hereinafter referred to as "other government licensing agencies"). The term offshore gambling license holders used in this order also includes gambling agents and certified service providers that provide auxiliary services to offshore gambling license holders.
License holders issued by any special economic zone authority, tourism zone authority, or freeport authority
The prohibition of POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling businesses includes:
1. Illegal offshore gambling businesses: All POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling operators that have not obtained the necessary licenses, permits, or authorizations from the relevant government licensing agencies are classified as illegal gambling entities defined in Section 2 of Executive Order No. 13 (2017), and law enforcement agencies are continuously intensifying their crackdown on illegal gambling activities, which will also include these entities.
2. License applications: Applications for new licenses, permits, or authorizations for POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling applicants, as well as other POGO, IGL, and other offshore gambling licenses, permits, or authorizations and related/auxiliary/additional services, will no longer be allowed by PAGCOR and other national government licensing agencies, as well as the Republic of the Philippines.
3. License renewals: All existing licenses, permits, or authorizations issued to POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling operators and related/auxiliary/additional services for POGO, IGL, and other offshore gambling shall not be extended or renewed.
4. Cessation of operations. All POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling operators and related/auxiliary/subsidiary services that have obtained the necessary licenses, permits, or authorizations should completely cease operations by December 31, 2024, including liquidating their businesses.
Regarding the comprehensive strategy of the ban, in addition to the involved departments, the focus includes:
Further intensifying the crackdown on all illegal POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling operators that do not hold the necessary licenses, authorizations, or permits;
Promoting, coordinating, and ensuring immediate investigations of individuals involved in illegal offshore gambling activities, and detaining them through appropriate law enforcement agencies;
Ensuring that offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law;
Initiating and executing the deportation of foreigners working in the offshore gambling industry according to relevant immigration laws, regulations, and ordinances, depending on the situation;
Closely monitoring the implementation of the above ban until the complete termination of POGO/IGL and other offshore gambling operators or services.
In a nutshell, whether you are POGO, IGL, or others, all are banned!
No matter who issued the license or where you operate, all are banned!
All actions are primarily defined by the executive order!
Whether there will be changes to the subsequent bans, PASA continues to closely monitor!
