Is the Philippine POGO (Offshore Gaming) industry about to "resurrect"? Recently, President Marcos Jr. has been slow to sign the "Anti-POGO Law," sparking industry speculation and illusions of a "resurrection." However, those truly familiar with the political ecology of the Philippines understand that this "silence" hides a more sophisticated harvesting battle.
Delay in signing is not a release
The House and Senate have already passed the "Anti-POGO Law," only lacking the President's signature to become law. What appears to be a delay is actually a clever strategy. Marcos Jr. did not mention POGO in his state of the nation address, not to avoid the issue, but to intentionally create a "buffer period"—to make room for crackdowns and to buy time for clearing the field.
This is not a traditional crackdown, but more like a "boiling frogs slowly" type of chronic harvesting. Large compliant companies have already withdrawn, leaving behind small and medium-sized organizations and illegal "wild groups," which become the easiest targets for law enforcement to handle and monetize.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration have established a fixed rhythm of "quota-based" law enforcement, processing several batches of personnel and companies each month, "averaging out" the gray forces. Instead of a one-time purge, this approach controls flight risks and sustains profit-driven crackdowns.
In July, Subic arrested 10 Chinese nationals, none of whom have been bailed out to date. NBI Subic has detained over a hundred Chinese nationals, showing that law enforcement has no "connections" or "relationships" to speak of, and reality is harsher than any warning.
Recently, rumors of "50 million pesos to buy a POGO license" have circulated within the circle—this is just an organized, rhythmic scam, exploiting the market's illusions of a "resurrection" for a new round of fraud. In fact, PAGCOR has clearly stated: no new POGO licenses will be issued.
Earlier in 2023, Marcos Jr. signed an executive order, listing offshore gaming as a national governance priority, specifying:
Gambling-related personnel can be sentenced to over 10 years
Company assets can be directly frozen and seized
Involved personnel are listed for deportation and blacklisting
This action is not a temporary cleanup, but a systematic clearing through a combination of law, policy, and law enforcement.
The most dangerous aspect is not the policy, but those who still harbor hope. Those who stand for the gray market and sell "bail services" have already prepared their escape routes. The truly trapped are those who still believe in "having someone cover for them" and continue to hold the front line.
When the raid comes, work visas become invalid, and company legal persons abscond, the only one left will be you.
Conclusion: Is it time to cut losses and leave, or continue to wait?
The Philippines never intended to "let go" of POGO, but chose to "eat it slowly." Marcos's silence is not hesitation, but a prelude to a systematic cleanup. The industry is unlikely to resurrect, the only question is: do you wait for the next round of arrests, or make a decision now?
Those who are sober have already started to protect themselves; those who are delusional are still sleepwalking. Is it better to stay and take the blame, or to exit in time? The choice is in your hands.
