The Philippine Senate will move quickly to pass legislation supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s declaration of a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on September 12, 20241. Speaking at a press briefing in Manila after the second public hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Gatchalian said senators including Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero had agreed to hasten the bill's passage1.
"Hopefully, in the next two weeks. Simpleng bill lang naman to (This is just a simple bill)"
The committee is looking at consolidating several measures: Senate Bill No. 63 filed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, SBNs 1281 and 2752 filed by Senator Joel Villanueva, and SBN 2689 filed by Gatchalian1. Cayetano and Villanueva are pushing to prohibit all forms of online gambling, while Gatchalian wants to repeal Republic Act No. 11590, the law taxing POGOs1.
The hearing also covered "e-gaming," which allows online bets exclusively from local clients. Gatchalian said the committee is weighing the revenue the government earns from it, citing PHP22 billion from PAGCOR and almost PHP12 billion from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, against PHP6 billion and PHP2 billion respectively three years ago1. He said the committee found weaknesses in regulation, particularly how easy it is to open an e-gaming account, claiming anybody, even minors, can open one using a fake name and age1.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Director Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz told the committee an executive order banning all POGOs is set to be issued by Marcos in two weeks1. PAGCOR Chairperson and CEO Alejandro Tengco said internet gaming licensees (IGLs) will also be covered by the order, and that Special class BPOs do not accept bets but serve as backroom operations for gaming companies abroad1. Tengco said members of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement will visit three Special class BPOs1.
What it means for players
The bill and the expected executive order target POGOs, the offshore operators that served customers outside the Philippines. E-gaming, which takes bets from local clients, is a separate question the committee has not resolved; proposals to ban it are under discussion but no decision is reported1. For people in the Philippines who use locally licensed online platforms, the rules governing those accounts have not changed as of September 12, 2024. The committee's stated concern about account verification, including the claim that fake names and ages can be used, points to identity checks as an area under scrutiny1. What the consolidated bill will say about e-gaming, and whether it survives in its current form, has not been reported.
What happens next
Gatchalian said he hopes the consolidated bill passes within two weeks1. An executive order banning all POGOs is set to be issued by Marcos in two weeks, according to Cruz1. Tengco said IGLs will be covered by that order1. Senate Committee on Games and Amusement members are set to visit three Special class BPOs1.
For background on the ban and how it affects players, see The Philippines' Ban on Offshore Gaming (POGOs) and Can I Gamble in the Philippines?. For how the rules compare across the region, see Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions.
