Revocation of remaining POGO licenses takes effect

The revocation of licenses for the remaining Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators took effect on Sunday, December 15, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to wind down POGO operations nationwide¹. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco first announced the move at a Palace press briefing on December 11¹.

In an interview with DZBB on Sunday morning, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Director Gilbert Cruz said around 20 POGOs are still operating, based on PAGCOR data¹. He said all POGOs and Internet Gambling Licensees are expected to cease operations by January, and that operators claiming to be licensed business process outsourcing firms are no longer allowed¹.

Cruz added that authorities would inspect POGOs claiming to have ceased operations to verify whether they have truly stopped functioning¹.

In November, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 74, mandating that the ban on POGOs and internet gaming licenses cover illegal offshore gaming activities, new license applications, renewals and the discontinuation of operations¹. Marcos first announced the ban during his third State of the Nation address last July¹.

Government agencies including the PAOCC, the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration implemented measures to downgrade the visas of foreign POGO workers starting on October 15¹. According to the Bureau of Immigration, over 21,000 foreign workers have applied for visa downgrades¹.

What it means for players

The revocation covers the remaining POGO and Internet Gambling Licensee operations in the Philippines, which served offshore customers rather than domestic bettors¹. The reported figure of around 20 still-operating POGOs is based on PAGCOR data cited by the PAOCC, and Cruz said all are expected to cease operations by January¹. Authorities have said they will inspect operators that claim to have closed¹.

For foreign workers in the sector, visa downgrade measures have been in place since October 15, and more than 21,000 have applied¹. The status of any remaining licenses, and how the ban applies to specific operators, has not been detailed beyond the executive order's scope¹. The Philippines' regulated land-based and other gaming sectors are not addressed in the reported measures¹.

What happens next

Cruz said all POGOs and Internet Gambling Licensees are expected to cease operations by January, and that inspections will follow to verify closures¹. No further dates beyond that have been reported¹.

For background on the ban and how Philippine gambling licensing works, see The Philippines' Ban on Offshore Gaming (POGOs), What Happens When a Gambling License Is Suspended or Revoked and Gambling Regulators and Licenses in Asia: Who Licenses What and How to Check. For general information on gambling in the country, see Can I Gamble in the Philippines?.