Philippine President bans all POGOs over allegations of criminal activity

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced an immediate ban on the establishment of new Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), citing their alleged involvement in criminal activities.

This decision, announced during his State of the Nation Address in Manila, follows a Senate investigation into illegal POGO-linked activities and increasing pressure to address the issue.

In his speech, Marcos alleged that POGOs were engaging in activities “farthest from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.”

"The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop," he said, as per media reports.

Also known as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), existing POGO operators have been given until the end of the year to wind down their operations.

There were several recent raids on illegal POGO compounds in Pampanga and Tarlac, which were allegedly involved in human trafficking and scam activities. The crackdown has garnered support from the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic and Development Authority.

In contrast, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco had previously argued for better regulation rather than a full ban, suggesting that stricter oversight could effectively control illegal POGO operations. Last year, PAGCOR implemented a full relicensing process, reducing the number of licensed IGLs from 298 to 43 in an effort to tighten control over the industry.

Despite these regulatory efforts, the decision to ban new POGOs and phase out existing ones received strong approval. The measure was met by cheers and a standing ovation during the President's address, according to local media. Prior to this announcement, President Marcos had remained silent on calls for a POGO ban.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has also taken steps to combat illegal POGO activities by creating a special task force dedicated to identifying and dismantling such operations. In response to the closures, the President directed the Department of Labor and Employment to work with economic managers to find new employment opportunities for those displaced by the POGO shutdowns.