The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) announced that all licenses for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) will be canceled by December 15.
Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco confirmed this during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) in Malacañang. He also stated that POGO licenses will not be renewed in the coming years.
“I have informed the president that by December 15, all POGO licenses will be canceled,” Tengco said. He added that claims of continuing operations under valid licenses are false.
President Marcos had called for a total ban on POGOs in his July State of the Nation Address. Since then, Pagcor has reduced the number of POGOs and service providers in the country from over 300 to about 60. Currently, only seven POGOs still have active licenses.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they would work with the Paocc to shut down all underground gaming operations. Local leaders will be asked to report suspicious activities, such as unusual internet use, gatherings in unregistered business locations, and foreign groups setting up operations.
“We will act quickly on any reports. Together with the Paocc, we will continue until all illegal gaming operators are gone,” Remulla said.
