Philippines bans POGOs effective July 22  

In his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA), Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) starting Monday, July 22.  

The move comes after many high-profile cases and investigations linked to POGOs have come to light in the past weeks. Last week, business associations, economic think tanks, and political groups also joined forces to advocate for a ban on these Chinese-run operations.  

POGO disguising as legitimate entities  

“Ngayon po, naririnig po namin ang malakas na sigaw ng taongbayan laban sa mga POGO (Now, we hear the loud cry of our countrymen against POGO),” Marcos said. “Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest 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.”  

“Kailangan nang itigil ang panggugulo nito sa ating lipunan at pagkalanapastangan sa ating bansa (It is necessary to stop this disruption in our society and blasphemy in our country,” Marcos added. “Effective today, all POGOs are banned.”  

"I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year. The DOLE, in coordination with our economic managers, shall use the time between now and then to find new jobs for our countrymen who will be displaced."— Presidential Communications Office (@pcogovph)

PAGCOR to cease POGO operations by the end of 2024  

“I hereby instruct PAGCOR (Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation) to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” the President said. In a message to SiGMA News, PAGCOR Asst. VP for External Comms Jun Alano said that as an agency under the Office of the President, PAGCOR will follow the President’s instructions.

The Philippine President also ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as well as the country’s economic managers to use the time between now and then to find new jobs for Filipinos who will be displaced. Marcos said the ban on POGOs will solve many of the problems that the country has been encountering.   

“To solve all the problems that we have been suffering, all officials, law enforcers, workers in government, and most of all, the citizenry, must always be vigilant, principled, and think of the health of the nation,” Marcos reminded.  

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