Since the Philippines announced the ban on POGO, many businesses related to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have nearly collapsed.
According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), it is expected that about 100,000 POGO workers will be expelled from the country by December 31. Recently, there have been numerous reports that many people were introduced to work in Thailand through intermediaries, only to end up in Myawaddy, Myanmar, where the environment is described as violently oppressive with almost no chance of escape.
President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 74, prohibiting the operation of POGO and internet gambling as well as other offshore gaming activities in the country, dealing a significant blow to all gaming companies, many of which had already strategically expanded into other countries.
An article by PASA compiled from netizen reports mentions Pattaya Garden District in Thailand as one example; following the POGO ban, the main destinations for outbound personnel from the Philippines are as follows:
Thailand: 26.6%
Vietnam: 22.3%
Cambodia: 20%
Malaysia: 12.3%
China: 6.7%
Taiwan: 4.3%
Japan: 3.5%
Others: 4.3%
It must be said that Thailand is considered by many to be the most suitable country for offshore gaming operations, despite such activities being illegal.
Senator Boy, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, stated: "There are still one hundred thousand POGO workers who have not been expelled." This means that many are still waiting and watching, and some companies are still operating, which is now illegal and could be raided by the police at any time.
Recently, many "wild" companies have been cracked down on, and from various signs, it is wise to move locations as soon as possible.
Is moving to Thailand safe?
Many people are introduced to work in Thailand through intermediaries for POGO operations, but they end up being taken to Myanmar or even sold to Cambodia.
It is strongly advised not to go there. In the Myanmar parks, apart from Asia City which treats people humanely, others are subjected to beatings if they disobey, perform poorly, or attempt to escape. If you try to leave, you'll be electrocuted until you lose control of your bladder and bowels, and if you want to leave, you'll have to pay off your debts and then be sent to another park to continue working.
According to previous reports from the parks, here are just two examples:
Near the Friendship Wharf park: About two-thirds of the employees in this park were "bought," and they are forced to undergo daily pc pipe, with the sound of electric batons constantly heard. In the cafeteria, many people wear gauze and use crutches. Due to the constant beatings, there are escape incidents every month.
Once, several office workers conspired to escape, but one of them was caught and "ate peanuts" (died) on the spot, and some severely injured employees were dragged away without medical treatment, locked in a dark room without food or water. Occasionally, Burmese people beat the employees, making their lives extremely miserable.
Myawaddy telecom fraud park: Those who escape from this park are not only pursued by park security but also captured by local residents for a bounty. If a colleague escapes, those who knew about it are also severely beaten by the supervisor. It is rumored that Burmese soldiers will shoot escapees directly, and Thai military police collude with park owners. Once they capture an escaping employee, they are sold back at a high price, and those returned to the park usually face severe beatings and abuse, after which their whereabouts become unknown.
Remaining "wild" POGO employees also face constant raids. What happens if they are caught in the Philippines? Recent news and reports have made it clear that without strong connections and a lot of money, it is generally very difficult to get people out, and even then, many who pay still cannot retrieve their people. Those caught are generally deported back to their home country, and the deportation list is already in the hands of the public security, ensuring that once they board the flight home, they are almost certainly detained.
Will the gambling industry disappear? It can be definitively said that it absolutely will not. Various parks are distributed across Southeast Asian countries, and where there is gambling, there is telecom fraud and illegal activities will always exist;
In the short term, the Philippine ban on POGO has dealt a significant blow to the industry, but in the long run, there are no impossible industries, only suitable places. In a few years, another country will flourish again.
