The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently firmly denied rumors about the "imminent resumption of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)" and warned the public to be vigilant against scams.
Alejandro Tengco, Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, stated in the announcement that recently, criminals have claimed that POGO is about to reopen and have used this to charge potential investors substantial fees to obtain "limited POGO license slots".
"These claims are baseless," emphasized Tengco. "POGO remains prohibited, and the government has no plans to resume related operations now or in the future."
He further revealed that scam groups, under the guise of attorney fees, consultancy fees, and evaluation fees, have been demanding up to 50 million pesos from victims, claiming they could assist in processing POGO licenses. "We want to make it clear that PAGCOR will not accept any POGO-related applications, nor will it resume POGO operations."
In November last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially signed Executive Order No. 74, which comprehensively prohibits offshore gaming, online gaming, and other forms of remote gaming operations within the Philippines.
Tengco reminds the public not to believe any rumors about the resumption of POGO and urges individuals or businesses who receive suspicious information to immediately report it to PAGCOR or relevant law enforcement agencies to avoid falling into scam traps.
PAGCOR reiterates its full support for government policies and its commitment to combating all illegal gaming activities to ensure the regulated development of the industry.
