Remaining licensed POGO companies agree to close down

The 41 offshore online gaming operators licensed by the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) plan to shut down operations within this year, according to the country’s Department of Justice (DOJ).

On July 22, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), now referred to as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGL), must cease business in the country by year-end.

“The 41 licensed POGOs under PAGCOR have already committed to complying with President Marcos’ directive and will fully cease operations,” the DOJ stated in a written announcement.

The statement noted that foreign workers employed by these offshore gaming operators have until October 15 to voluntarily repatriate.

“Starting October 16, 2024, all 9G employment visas for affected foreign POGO workers will be downgraded to tourist visas, and they must leave the Philippines within 60 days or face involuntary repatriation,” the DOJ added.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the “Task Force POGO Closure,” which includes the DOJ, PAGCOR, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the Bureau of Immigration.

The task force aims to “establish a clear, organized, and streamlined set of guidelines for the complete prohibition of POGO operations throughout the country by the end of the year, without compromising the welfare of the workers affected by the President’s directive,” the statement said.

“This may just be the first of many meetings to ensure a streamlined, systematic, and efficient implementation of the President’s policy directive,” said Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, as cited in the announcement.

Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR’s chairman and chief executive, warned that the “most challenging part” of removing offshore online gaming operators would begin on January 1, 2025, as some operators may resort to “dirty tactics” to hide their illegal business, according to the statement.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment said that nearly 27,000 Filipinos would be impacted by the ban on online offshore gaming operators in the country. While SCBPOs are to be unaffected by the POGO ban, there is still a sizable amount of displaced workers the government needs to help. Online gaming for the domestic market still remains safe since this is not related to the POGO ban.

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