The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) officially revoked the licenses of 42 online gaming operators and cancelled the business permits of 18 authorized providers on December 15, 2024, marking the complete shutdown of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry.
This action is a direct result of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to completely ban POGO, with all related operations required to cease by the end of 2024.
According to official statistics, before the ban took effect, the POGO industry employed 58,181 workers, of which 30,144 were foreigners. Following the implementation of the ban, the government quickly intensified enforcement, with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) jointly launching crackdowns, resulting in the arrest of 3,024 illegal POGO workers to date.
Senator Raffy Tulfo called for further government enforcement, emphasizing that in combating illegal POGO activities, there should be no distinction between foreign nationals and Filipino workers, and that legal responsibility should be pursued equally for all involved.
"Whether they are Filipinos or foreigners, anyone involved in POGO-related fraud, money laundering, or other crimes must face severe legal penalties," Tulfo stated.
With the complete shutdown of the POGO industry, the government promises to continue cracking down on remaining illegal operations to ensure that related criminal activities are completely eradicated and to prevent the industry from resurging in any form.
Despite the government setting December 31, 2024, as the final deadline, only 10% of foreign workers in the Philippine offshore gaming industry have been successfully deported, raising concerns about the slow progress of enforcement.
At the Senate Gaming and Entertainment Committee hearing on the same day, Tulfo cited data indicating that as of last August, there were 58,181 offshore gaming workers nationwide, including 30,144 foreigners.
Last year, President Marcos ordered a complete ban on POGO and required all related operators to cease operations by the end of 2024. However, Alvin Cezar Santos, head of the legal department at the Bureau of Immigration, revealed that although visas had been cancelled for 12,106 of the 30,144 foreign workers, only 3,024 had been formally deported to date.
Facing Tulfo's inquiry, Santos explained that most of those deported were arrested in joint operations by the Bureau of Immigration and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). However, the whereabouts of about 27,000 foreign workers remain unknown, some of whom may continue to operate illegal offshore gaming companies.
Tulfo expressed concern: "This means that a large number of foreign workers are still active in the country, and may even continue to participate in illegal gaming operations. Have you not yet determined their exact whereabouts?"
Santos responded that the Bureau of Immigration is increasing its enforcement efforts, but faces many challenges in logistics, detention, and the actual deportation process. He added that an operation earlier this year successfully arrested 438 people, but overall progress is still limited by resources and execution capacity.
Tulfo concluded: "Thank you for your efforts, but the current situation remains concerning. The government needs to accelerate actions to ensure that policies are implemented."
