President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a ban on all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country by the end of the year, speaking during his third State of the Nation Address1. The announcement was cited in a September 2, 2024 report by GMA Integrated News on enforcement operations against illegal POGO hubs1.
The report described a raid on a gated compound in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, where authorities said some 150 foreigners were arrested1. PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio said the number had climbed to 169 as of Monday, of whom 163 were considered arrested and six were considered rescued1. By nationality, Casio said 91 were Chinese nationals, 69 Indonesian, six Burmese, two Taiwanese and one Malaysian1. Four Filipinos were also arrested during the operation1.
Casio said the six rescued Indonesians were part of 13 people the Indonesian Embassy had requested be rescued1. He said the arrested foreigners were in the custody of authorities at the raided scam farm and would undergo criminal and immigration inquests, with transport to Manila by military plane once weather allowed1. He said those arrested were "remnants" of previously raided POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga, and that most of the 169 foreigners came from those two hubs1. Authorities raided the Bamban hub in March and the Porac hub in June1.
Casio said authorities were drafting an order for Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin's signature to confiscate the 2-hectare compound and all its vehicles, and had requested warrants to search seized gadgets1. Asked who owned the property, he said it may belong to a family of Chinese nationals holding a special retirement residency visa, and that the facility had been operating since 20191. He said authorities were still looking into around 300 illegal POGO hubs1.
"President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is banning all POGOs in the country by the end of the year."
What it means for players
The ban as announced covers POGOs, the offshore-facing operators that served customers abroad rather than domestic bettors1. The report does not state how the ban affects domestic online gambling, land-based casinos or other licensed gaming in the Philippines, and no implementing rules, transition arrangements or exemptions are described in it1. Enforcement activity described in the report centers on foreigners working in raided compounds and on suspected scam operations, not on players1. Casio said authorities were still looking into around 300 illegal POGO hubs, indicating operations continued after the announcement1. For the legal status of gambling in the country, see Can I Gamble in the Philippines? and The Philippines' Ban on Offshore Gaming (POGOs); for how the Philippines compares with its neighbors, see Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions.
What happens next
The report gives no date for the ban taking effect beyond "the end of the year," and no timetable for the confiscation order or the search warrants1. Casio said the arrested foreigners would face criminal and immigration inquests, with a military flight to Manila expected once weather improved1. He called on local government units to be more vigilant against illegal POGO activity within their areas1.
