Philippines' "Anti-POGO Law": No Room for Maneuver for 3–5 Years

Even if "Old Duterte" returns, it's hard to reverse the situation.

In June 2025, a legislative action concerning the future of Philippine offshore gambling was decisively set behind the scenes, but it caused a severe earthquake in the industry. The Congress almost unanimously passed the "Anti-POGO Act," completely abolishing the legal basis for offshore gambling and categorizing all POGO activities as criminal. The system cleanup will brutally end the Philippine gambling pattern as soon as the president signs it.

1. Review: The legalization of POGO is officially over.

2021–2023: The industry size sharply reduced by more than 90%, with many platforms involving Chinese capital exposed for kidnapping, money laundering, and other scandals, triggering strong social resistance.

August 2024: President Marcos Jr. publicly stated that POGO "is no longer beneficial to national interests," supporting a phased exit.

May 2025: The Senate proposed Bill SB 2689 "Anti-POGO Act," advocating for a complete ban, criminal penalties, and cancellation of PAGCOR licenses.

June 9, 2025: The Senate passed it unanimously on the third reading.

June 10, 2025: The House of Representatives also passed it unanimously on the third reading.

Current status: The bill has been submitted to the president for signature, and once signed, the era of POGO legalization will officially end.

2. Rigorous procedures, unshakable legal effect

In the Philippines, important bills must go through:

Drafting (initiated by senators or the president's camp)

First reading (clarifying the issue)

Second reading (item-by-item deliberation and amendment)

Third reading (full text vote)

House of Representatives review

Presidential signature to take effect

This bill:

Zero opposition votes, high consensus among all parties;

Multiple pressures jointly promoted (anti-corruption agencies, religious groups, immigration, national police, intelligence agencies, education departments, etc.);

Rumors also include China's "informal appeal."

Once the president signs, this will no longer be a reversible administrative order but will rise to a criminal law provision, and any platform, landlord, network provider, or contractor will face criminal accountability. To restore "legalization," it is necessary to repeal this law and introduce new regulations, a difficulty comparable to a political adventure.

3. Complete collapse of the entire chain after the bill takes effect

License cut off

PAGCOR will lose all licensing rights;

Operating platforms instantly become "illegal gangs."

Comprehensive cleanup of personnel and assets

Mass arrests and deportations of foreign employees;

Related landlords, network service providers, and partners are also investigated;

Assets (equipment, accounts, cash) will be seized or auctioned.

Complete break in the funding chain

Most "hard-maintained" gray platforms are forced to shut down;

Investors, intermediaries, and agents all face total losses;

The situation of many Chinese practitioners is worrying.

4. "Old Duterte's return" is just a castle in the air

Many gray forces hoped that "as long as Duterte regains power, there might be a turnaround for gambling," but this hope has now been completely shattered:

Duterte himself is facing judicial cleanup, and the possibility of returning to politics is extremely slim;

Even if he regains power, he cannot bypass the criminal law of the "Anti-POGO Act";

The military, law enforcement, religious, and other parties have already allied against gambling, and the political atmosphere is solid.

To see gambling legalized again, the only way is to:

Repeal the current law, draft new regulations;

Convince both houses to overturn the current ban;

Rebuild the regulatory framework and implementation details.

These three steps will require years of political cost and significant social risk. Who would still want to gamble all their political capital on "opening gambling for the Chinese"?

Conclusion:

The Philippine offshore gambling market has no way back. All operators still in operation or looking to re-enter must promptly assess their exit and transformation plans. Hoping for a "policy reversal" is akin to betting oneself on the abyss of law and time.