Marcos bans Philippine online casinos linked to scams and crime

Regulator has until end-2024 to shut down operators catering to overseas gamblers

- Mara Cepeda

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has banned offshore casinos operating in the Philippines, condemning the controversial online industry for its “grave abuse” of the country’s laws.

Mr Marcos, in his State of the Nation address on July 22, gave the national gaming regulator until the end of 2024 to shut down the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) which cater to overseas gamblers, including Chinese nationals, and have been linked to criminal activities.

“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop… Effective today, all Pogos are banned,” said Mr Marcos, earning a standing ovation and resounding cheers from lawmakers and guests at the Batasang Pambansa complex in the capital Manila.

“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,” he added.

Pogos, primarily run by Chinese nationals, started flourishing in 2016 during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s term and have been the subject of multiple congressional hearings under the current Marcos administration.

The hearings include the Philippine Senate’s investigation of Ms Alice Guo, the now-suspended mayor of a small Philippine town who was allegedly behind a scam hub fronting as a Pogo.

The authorities also say some Pogos have lured foreign workers, including Chinese nationals, with promises of legal jobs in the Philippines, only to trick them into working for the scam hubs later on.