Philippine authorities raided a scam hub holding an internet gaming license (IGL) in Pasay on October 3, 20241. The raid took place as the government moved to shut down the offshore gaming industry under a ban announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.1.
The ban was set out in Executive Order No. 74, signed on November 5, which states that all POGOs and IGLs, along with related and auxiliary services holding licenses, permits or authorizations, "shall completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on 31 December 2024 or earlier"1. The order covers both illegal and licensed POGOs, as well as those operating under the newer name, internet gaming license or IGL1.
The order excludes "online games of chance conducted in Pagcor-operated casinos, licensed casinos, or integrated resorts with junket agreements"1. Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned that exclusion, asking whether it meant POGOs could operate inside casinos such as City of Dreams or Fontana, or in resorts with casinos1.
Whether the ban reaches licensees of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) remained unclear1. CEZA has its own offshore gaming framework, called i-Gaming, under its charter, Republic Act No. 7922, and its chief executive officer is Katrina Ponce Enrile, daughter of Juan Ponce Enrile, Marcos' chief presidential legal counsel1. Katrina Enrile told the House of Representatives on July 31 that "CEZA enjoys independence from Pagcor and other agencies of the national government in terms of licensing and regulation of gaming within its covered jurisdiction"1. CEZA is not explicitly named in EO 74, and Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez told Rappler that CEZA is not under Pagcor supervision given its charter, "That's why it was excluded in the EO"1.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued a memorandum to CEZA on November 5 telling it to "adhere to the directive" of the President regarding the ban1. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said all POGOs, whether under Pagcor jurisdiction or not, shall cease operations by December 31, 2024, but declined to comment further on CEZA, saying, "I will not preempt the Palace"1.
"What this only underscores is that we need a clear law to move forward with a meaningful, clear, unequivocal, and comprehensive ban."
The Bureau of Immigration has been supervising the downgrading of visas issued directly in connection with POGOs and IGLs1. An anti-POGO bill is pending in the Senate1.
What it means for players
The raid in Pasay involved a hub operating under an IGL, the license category that EO 74 names alongside POGOs1. Offshore operators serving players in the Philippines, whether licensed or not, are required to wind down by December 31, 20241. Online games of chance inside Pagcor-operated casinos, licensed casinos and integrated resorts with junket agreements are excluded from the ban, so those venues are not covered by the cessation requirement1. Whether CEZA i-Gaming licensees fall under the ban had not been settled in the order or in the statements from officials1.
What happens next
Licensed POGOs and IGLs face a cessation deadline of December 31, 2024, or earlier1. The anti-POGO bill remains pending in the Senate1. Rappler reported that it had asked Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla for comment and had not received a response at the time of publication1.
