Philippine lawmaker calls for review of local online gambling

Philippines Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is pushing for a review of Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs), questioning whether these online gaming platforms, licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), should continue operating.

Escudero warned that PIGOs, which cater to local players, could be just as harmful as the now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the Business Mirror reported. While POGOs mostly targeted foreign gamblers, he said that PIGOs put Filipinos at risk of addiction and financial ruin. 

“Filipinos are the ones losing money; and most probably, the old POGO operators are hiding behind the PIGO,” said Escudero during a press conference. 

Given that similar concerns were raised against POGOs, he argued that PIGOs warrant the same level of scrutiny, if not more.

The lawmaker urged Pagcor and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to provide clear data on PIGO revenues and assess whether the industry’s benefits outweigh its risks. “How much, indeed, are we getting? And like the questions we ask in relations with POGO, is it worth it?” he said.

Escudero stressed that if PIGOs prove harmful, the government should consider banning them, just as it did with POGOs. 

Moreover, he also cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2022 suspension of e-sabong due to its negative impact and his recent order to shut down POGO operations by December 2024.

Established in 2018, PIGOs were designed to regulate and expand online gambling within the country. Unlike POGOs, which catered exclusively to foreign players, PIGOs allow Filipino users to engage in online casino games, sports betting, and other virtual gambling services.

Operators must meet stringent requirements, including at least 10 years of industry experience and a minimum capital investment of PHP100 million ($1.7 million). They use physical gaming machines in casinos instead of random number generators, a model called "remote gambling."

PAGCOR licenses 44 PIGO operators, including Bloomberry Resorts, Travellers International, Tiger Resort, Bingo Plus, and Hann Philippines