The Philippine Senate recently passed a significant legislative proposal on the second reading of a bill aimed at completely banning all forms of offshore online gambling (POGO) within the country, officially designating it as illegal. The bill is numbered 2868, known as the "Anti-Offshore Gambling Act," and was spearheaded by Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
Hontiveros stated at the meeting that this bill is a crucial step in combating online gambling and its associated criminal issues. "I sincerely hope that the Senate can complete the third reading soon, making this law the starting point for our country to completely rid itself of the scourge of online gambling."
Key Points of the Bill: Comprehensive Prohibition of POGO and Immediate Deportation of Involved Foreign Nationals
According to the bill, once it becomes law, the Philippines will no longer allow any form of offshore gambling operations, and all related licenses will be completely halted. Additionally, the bill grants new powers to the immigration bureau to immediately deport foreign nationals suspected of engaging in POGO activities, without the need for lengthy judicial procedures.
Furthermore, the bill proposes severe punishment mechanisms for government personnel within the system who may be involved in gambling. Any government officials found to assist or participate in the industry will face the most severe legal accountability.
Frequent Criminal Scandals Spark Legislative Motivation
The push for this bill was motivated by a series of serious criminal incidents involving POGO that were exposed in 2024, causing a strong public outcry. In Banban Town, Danleng Province, and Polak Town, Bangbangya Province, several POGO operation centers were accused of involvement in human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual abuse. The investigations eventually led to the arrest of the town mayor of Banban, Guo Huaping, who was charged with involvement in illegal gambling activities and abuse of power to facilitate criminal operations.
Hontiveros bluntly stated in the debate that the POGO issue has far exceeded the scope of gambling: "They are footholds for transnational criminal networks in the Philippines, involving immigration abuse, money laundering, and systemic corruption, posing substantial threats to national security and social order."
Legislative Progress and Outlook
The bill has now completed the second reading in the Senate and will next proceed to the third reading. If successfully passed and signed into law by the president, the Philippines will officially become the first country in Asia to completely outlaw offshore gambling through national legislation.
This marks a fundamental shift in the Philippine regulatory stance on POGO, moving from the previous licensing system to a complete prohibition.
