The Philippine Senate recently passed the "Anti-Offshore Gaming Act" on its second reading with overwhelming support, marking a critical step by the government in addressing the issues with POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators).
If the bill is successfully passed in the third reading and signed by the president, POGO will be completely banned, all related activities will be officially defined as illegal, and no further operating licenses will be issued in the future.
"If we do not act now, the Philippines will completely become a hotbed for transnational crime," stated Senator Risa Hontiveros during the bill's deliberation. She pointed out that POGO is not only linked to illegal gambling but has also become a breeding ground for fraud, kidnapping, money laundering, and illegal detention, serving as a foundation for transnational criminal networks in the Philippines.
The bill proposes a series of stringent measures:
All foreign nationals engaged in offshore gaming in the Philippines may be deported without lengthy legal procedures in the future;
Intermediary companies that previously operated in a "grey legal" space will face clear criminal responsibilities, shifting overnight from a vague fringe to an illegal entity;
Any public officials found sheltering or assisting POGO operations will be severely punished according to the law, with no leniency.
Hontiveros emphasized, "This is not just a gambling issue, but a core channel for transnational crime to take root in the Philippines. It severely undermines our social order and national governance structure."
As the legislative process continues to advance, the entire POGO industry is facing an unprecedented policy storm. The industry's surrounding foreign labor, Chinese-funded enterprises, and services related to gambling such as visas, technology, and outsourcing are all facing significant impacts.
Policy analysts believe that once the bill is passed in the third reading and officially becomes law, the legal status of POGO will cease to exist, and the Philippine government will send a clear signal to the international community: zero tolerance for gambling-related crimes. This will be a fundamental counterattack against the long-standing gambling-related public security issues in the Philippines.
