President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced in July 2023 a complete ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), citing the industry's alleged connections to criminal activities, according to Rappler1. The announcement led to a directive for foreign workers in the industry to leave the country by September 20241.
The POGO industry's rapid growth began in 2016, during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, under permits issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation1. It expanded on liberal gaming laws that drew customers from China, where gambling is prohibited1. Revenue peaked at P6 billion in 2018 and then fell to a low of P2.2 billion in 20221.
"In July 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a complete ban on POGOs due to their alleged connections to criminal activities"
The Chinese government had urged the Philippines to ban POGOs, citing their negative impact on society and crime, and cooperated with Philippine law enforcement on issues tied to POGO operations1. The presence of POGO workers, many of whom turned out to be trafficked from China and other countries, upended the real estate market and disrupted peace and order in some communities1.
| Year | POGO revenue |
|---|---|
| 2018 (peak) | P6 billion |
| 2022 (low) | P2.2 billion |
What it means for players
The ban targets offshore operators that served customers abroad, particularly in China, rather than domestic gambling in the Philippines1. The directive for foreign workers to leave by September 2024 applied to people employed by those operators, not to players1. The status of land-based casinos, licensed domestic online operators and other forms of gambling in the Philippines is not addressed in the announcement as reported1. For players in China, where gambling is prohibited, the closure of the offshore operators that served them removes a channel that had operated since 20161. Details on enforcement against remaining operators or on any effect on individual players have not been reported1.
What happens next
Foreign workers in the POGO industry were directed to leave the country by September 20241. No further steps beyond that directive are set out in the announcement as reported1.
For background on the ban and what it covers, see The Philippines' Ban on Offshore Gaming (POGOs). For the wider legal picture across the region, see Online Gambling in Asia: The Law for Players in 12 Jurisdictions. For the rules that apply to players in the two countries most affected, see Can I Gamble in the Philippines? and Can I Gamble in China?.
Sources1 sources
- POGOs, rappler.com
