41 POGOs agree to close by end of 2024

The Department of Justice confirmed on Thursday that the 41 licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) have agreed to halt operations by the end of 2024¹. The operators expressed their intent to cease operations in compliance with President Marcos' directive to ban all POGOs in the country, which he issued during his third State of the Nation Address in July¹.

The DOJ is part of the newly formed Task Force POGO Closure, which met for the first time on Wednesday to discuss how the shutdown would be implemented¹. The task force also includes PAGCOR, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Bureau of Immigration¹. It is expected to oversee the implementation of the ban before the year ends, ensuring that all POGO-related activities are completely stopped by 2025¹.

PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco said the initial closures are only part of the problem, and that enforcement will be harder next year.

The DOJ has set a deadline of Oct. 15 for foreign workers employed by POGOs to voluntarily leave the country¹. All pre-arranged employment visas, or 9G visas, held by foreign POGO workers will be downgraded to tourist visas by Oct. 16, giving them 60 days to leave the Philippines¹. Non-compliance will lead to involuntary repatriation¹.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government is committed to enforcing the law, stating that the harm and danger fueled by illegal POGO activities have placed public safety and national security at risk¹. Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez stressed the importance of a streamlined and systematic approach to implementing the ban¹.

What it means for players

The 41 operators that have agreed to close are the licensed offshore gaming operators regulated by PAGCOR, which serve customers outside the Philippines rather than domestic bettors¹. The reported shutdown covers those offshore operations, not the land-based casinos and other gambling venues that PAGCOR regulates separately. The report does not state what happens to any balances, pending withdrawals or accounts held by customers of the closing operators, and no process for players to recover funds has been reported¹.

For foreign nationals working in the POGO industry, the visa timeline is the practical deadline: voluntary departure by Oct. 15, downgrade to tourist status on Oct. 16, and 60 days from there to leave, with involuntary repatriation for those who do not comply¹. The report does not say how many foreign workers are affected¹.

What happens next

The Task Force POGO Closure, made up of the DOJ, PAGCOR, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Bureau of Immigration, is overseeing the shutdown¹. PAGCOR's chairman has warned that some operators may try to continue illegally in 2025, and the task force says it aims to have all POGO-related activity stopped by then¹. No further meeting dates or enforcement measures beyond the visa deadlines have been reported¹.

For background on the ban and how licensing works in the region, see The Philippines' Ban on Offshore Gaming (POGOs) and Gambling Regulators and Licenses in Asia: Who Licenses What and How to Check. For the wider market, see Can I Gamble in the Philippines?.