The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed local government units (LGUs) to tighten business permit inspections to prevent banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) and scam hubs from continuing to operate, according to a circular published on October 15, 20261. The directive, DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-054, sets revised guidelines for enforcing Republic Act No. 12312, the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which prohibits all POGO and IGL operations nationwide and names the DILG a member of the Administrative Oversight Committee overseeing the law's implementation1.
Under the circular, LGUs must conduct regular random inspections as a prerequisite for issuing and renewing business permits and licenses, particularly for commercial establishments and high-rise buildings where applicable1. They must also document establishments whose permits were revoked before the circular was issued, along with premises previously occupied by POGOs, IGLs and scam hubs, and report their anti-POGO operations and results1.
"LGUs are required to ensure regular random inspections as a prerequisite for issuing and renewing business permits and licenses, particularly for commercial establishments and high-rise buildings, when applicable."
The circular sets reporting duties on a fixed schedule:
| Requirement | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Annual notarized certification to the DILG Regional Office confirming no POGOs, IGLs or scam hubs in the jurisdiction | January 15, 2027, and January 15 of each succeeding year1 |
| Special report to the DILG Regional Director where such operations have been recorded | Immediately1 |
LGUs are also directed to coordinate with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other law enforcement agencies to identify suspected clandestine offshore gaming operations1. The PNP and other agencies are tasked to assist local chief executives in investigating suspected illegal activities, closing establishments and apprehending people involved or suspected of involvement in clandestine gambling operations, and to coordinate on joint investigations, enforcement operations and intelligence sharing1.
ABS-CBN News reported the same directive on October 15, 2026, under the headline "DILG orders stricter business permit checks vs illegal POGOs, scam hubs," but its published text carried no additional detail beyond the headline2.
What it means for players
The circular concerns business permits and premises, not licenses held by players. Its practical effect falls on the buildings and commercial addresses where offshore gaming and scam operations have been housed: inspections now gate permit issuance and renewal, and local governments must keep records of revoked permits and previously occupied sites1. For anyone gambling in the Philippines, the relevant legal position is unchanged by this circular. Republic Act No. 12312 already prohibits all POGO and IGL operations nationwide1. Offshore operators serving players in the Philippines are therefore unlicensed, and the enforcement machinery described here, including police powers to close establishments and apprehend those involved, is aimed at the operators and the premises rather than at customers1. The circular does not state any penalty for players, and no change to the legal treatment of players has been reported.
What happens next
LGUs must submit annual notarized certifications confirming the absence of POGOs, IGLs and scam hubs in their jurisdictions to their DILG Regional Offices beginning January 15, 2027, and by January 15 each year after that1. Any LGU that records the presence of such operations must file a special report with its DILG Regional Director immediately1. No date has been reported for the start of the random inspections themselves.
For background on the ban and how it is enforced, see POGOs in the Philippines and Crackdowns on Offshore Online Gambling Hubs in Asia. For related risks, see Gambling Scams in Asia, and for the wider legal picture, Gambling Laws in Asia and Gambling in the Philippines.
