All Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations banned

All Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in the Philippines ceased to be legal on December 31, 2024, the date set for the industry to shut down under Executive Order No. 74, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed in Manila on November 5, 2024¹. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has since reiterated that former POGO licensees and service providers that continue to operate are illegal³.

Executive Order No. 74, titled "Immediate Ban of Philippine Offshore Gaming, Internet Gaming, and Other Offshore Gaming Operations in the Philippines, and for Other Purposes," stops new license applications and bars the renewal or extension of existing licenses and permits¹. It states that all POGOs, Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) and related offshore gaming services "shall completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on 31 December 2024 or earlier"¹. The order defines offshore gaming as online games of chance limited to livestreamed electronic casino games, online random number generator games and online sports betting, offered exclusively to players located outside the Philippines. It excludes games conducted in PAGCOR-operated casinos, licensed casinos or integrated resorts with junket agreements¹.

The order classifies operators without the necessary license, permit or authorization as illegal gambling entities and places them under an intensified law enforcement crackdown¹. It cites a Department of Finance study finding that the risks of POGO activity, including increased crime rates, social instability and exploitation of vulnerable people, outweighed its economic and social benefits, and an Anti-Money Laundering Council report identifying POGOs as susceptible to money laundering and fraud¹.

PAGCOR has also warned the public about websites it says are using its logo and displaying fabricated license certificates. It named efesbetcasino514.com, OG7777 (og7777.org), Mpo500.com, QQ88.com, mpo2121.com, Lgolive.com, napolibet.com, KRATOSBET LTD (kratosbet.com), mpossport.com and efsanebahis434.com, and said another fraudulent site, cazeus2.com, was found operating from the United Kingdom³.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 2-2025 to publicize the order, stating that PAGCOR and the BIR must expedite collection of applicable fees and taxes related to the offshore gaming industry⁴.

The testing firm eCOGRA said it is no longer authorized to offer certification services for offshore gaming offerings and remains approved for domestic, Philippine-based operations only⁵.

What it means for players

Offshore-facing sites that once held POGO or IGL licenses have no legal standing in the Philippines after December 31, 2024, and PAGCOR says any entity claiming such a license for offshore gaming is violating the law³. Players in the Philippines can check whether an operator holds a current license through PAGCOR's official website, which the regulator names as the place to verify licensed operators³. The ban covers offshore gaming offered to players outside the Philippines; games in PAGCOR-operated casinos, licensed casinos and integrated resorts with junket agreements are excluded from the definition¹. Sites displaying PAGCOR logos or license certificates may be doing so without authorization, as PAGCOR says the named sites did³.

What happens next

Executive Order No. 74 directs two technical working groups: one on employment recovery and reintegration, chaired by PAGCOR with the Department of Labor and Employment as vice chairperson, and one on anti-illegal offshore gaming operations, chaired by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission with the Department of Justice as vice chairperson¹. The groups are to submit monthly reports on implementation of the ban and final reports on the complete cessation and winding up of all offshore gaming operations on December 31, 2024². The order also directs PAGCOR and the BIR to expedite collection of applicable fees and taxes¹.