The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) confirmed that around 22,000 Filipinos could lose their jobs if the government enforces a nationwide ban on licensed online gaming operators.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma made this statement during a Thursday television interview. He directly addressed renewed calls to prohibit the operations of licensed offshore firms, previously known as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), now called Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs).
Since July last year, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has operated under revised regulations. These new rules officially rebranded POGOs as IGLs. Despite the regulatory shift, discussions about their continued presence in the country remain contentious.
“We will face a major challenge if the government shuts down legitimate IGL firms,” Laguesma said. “Such a move would significantly affect the employment of thousands of Filipino workers.” His remarks appeared in a report by the Manila Standard.
In preparation for this possible scenario, DOLE has already begun exploring support mechanisms for displaced workers. Moreover, the department committed to tightening the screening process for foreign workers applying for alien employment permits within the IGL sector.
From January to April 2025 alone, DOLE issued roughly 8,000 alien employment permits to foreign workers in the gaming industry. Most recipients came from Vietnam and China, highlighting the sector’s regional employment footprint.
This statement from DOLE follows mounting political pressure to eliminate offshore gaming operations entirely. Law enforcement agencies recently conducted raids on IGL-linked compounds. These actions intensified public scrutiny. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Manila reiterated its demand for a complete ban. It cited harmful effects on both Philippine and Chinese interests.
Despite the controversy, PAGCOR continues to formalize IGL operations. Recently, the agency upgraded 13 provisional IGL permits to full licenses, bringing the total number of active IGL operators to 40, according to materials reviewed by GGRAsia.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed a bill in May to outlaw IGLs altogether. While the legislative process continues, experts note that such a ban would affect offshore-targeted gaming only and not impact domestic online gaming operations serving Filipino users.
For now, the future of offshore gaming—and the 22,000 jobs tied to it—hangs in the balance.
