Record-breaking Number of Illegal Gambling Apprehensions in the Philippines Reaches 41K in a Year
Crackdown on Illegal Gambling in the Philippines Intensifies
The Philippine government is taking decisive action against illegal gambling, particularly targeting the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) segment and online cockfighting or eSabong. The operation focuses on enforcing immigration laws, closing illegal gambling operations, and protecting national security.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has been at the forefront of this crackdown, deporting over 100 foreign nationals illegally working in POGO, primarily for lacking proper documentation. Most deportees were Vietnamese, South Koreans, and one Malagasy. This action is part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to remove foreigners violating Philippine laws, especially those linked to criminal syndicates and cybercrime in POGO.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) supports the crackdown by identifying and apprehending illegal gambling operators and workers. Although specific recent PNP actions weren't detailed, the PNP remains critical in enforcing laws against illegal gambling and related criminal activities.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which regulates legal gambling, continues to oversee gambling operations. PAGCOR has been noted for intensifying efforts to shut down illegal offshore gambling operations, including rationalizing its own operations by shutting loss-making casinos. PAGCOR aligns with government efforts under President Marcos to regulate and sanction illegal gambling.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which regulates certain legal gambling, has also been involved in the crackdown, although the recent direct action against illegal eSabong is less documented. However, eSabong has been under government scrutiny due to issues with unregulated online cockfighting operations, which President Marcos's administration has reportedly aimed to regulate or shut down to combat illegal betting and cybercrime.
President Marcos has issued clear directives emphasizing strict enforcement against illegal gambling, reflecting a broader campaign to protect national security and Philippine laws from exploitation by foreigners and criminal syndicates involved in POGO and possibly eSabong.
The crackdown has resulted in approximately 41,000 arrests since the beginning of 2023, with the majority being related to online gaming. The Philippines has been dealing with serious issues in the POGO segment, with attempts to raise their tax rate leading to questionable business practices such as human trafficking, exploitation, coercion, and other crimes. eSabong, too, has faced corruption and is under scrutiny, having provided millions of dollars in revenue to the Philippines.
However, PAGCOR has faced trouble with legislators recently. Lawmakers in the Philippines are seeking a complete ban on POGOs due to the corruption within the segment. Legislative reforms are currently underway to address the lack of detail in gaming laws. The PCSO is part of the Office of the President and is close to President Marcos, which may influence the direction of these reforms.
The efforts to crack down on illegal gambling and the corruption within the POGO and eSabong segments are ongoing, and the Philippine gaming industry is going through a significant transition. The Clark Security Advisory Council, which emerged from a recent scandal involving over 1,000 human trafficking victims, is also playing a role in the ongoing efforts. The crackdown is a coordinated government effort with BI deporting illegal foreign workers in POGO, PAGCOR tightening regulatory oversight and shutting non-compliant ops, and the PNP enforcing laws on the ground. President Marcos drives this policy and enforcement priority, emphasizing national security and legal compliance.
[1] Rappler. (2023, June 14). BI deports 100 foreigners in POGO crackdown. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/2825160-bi-deports-100-foreigners-pogo-crackdown
[2] Inquirer.net. (2023, June 23). PAGCOR closes 4 casinos, to shut down loss-making ops. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/320408/pagcor-closes-4-casinos-to-shut-down-loss-making-ops
- Amidst the Asia Pacific gaming sector, the Philippine government's crackdown on illegal gambling, primarily focused on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and online cockfighting, continues to gain attention.
- Lawmakers in the Philippines are pushing for a complete ban on POGOs due to the ongoing issues of corruption and illegal activities, with legislative reforms underway to address the loopholes in the gaming laws.
- The ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling in the Philippines, driven by President Marcos's emphasis on national security and legal compliance, has resulted in over 41,000 arrests and the deportation of 100 foreign nationals involved in POGO operations.
