DILG's Remulla: All POGOs closed by yearend

Make no mistake. There will be no more Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and other online gaming enterprises in the country by the end of this year, as ordered by President Marcos, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.

- By BELLA CARIASO

“Like I announced, the POGOs will be closed starting Dec. 15 and all the rest will be closed by Dec. 31, no exceptions and that goes with Filipino-run POGOs, that goes with Chinese or foreign-run POGOs. There are no exceptions to this,” Remulla said at a press conference at Camp Crame.

He said licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) “are revoked under the presidential order and all subsequent requests.” He said 41 POGOs with Pagcor licenses have agreed to fold up.

Marcos ordered a total ban on POGOs in his third State of the Nation Address in July.

Some POGOs, however, were able to skirt the President’s order and continue operating.