Philippine POGO faces another setback! Cebu's Deputy Mayor pushes for the revision of 7 supporting ordinances, conducting a comprehensive review of Chinese-funded gambling operators.
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) face another setback in Cebu. On July 9, Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced that the city council will start revising several previously passed local regulations that support the POGO business, in response to national measures to regulate the indu
The list of POGO suspects is believed to have entered China, with former practitioners being named by the police overseas continuously.
Recently, there have been rumors that the list of employees working in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) has been handed over to Chinese law enforcement authorities. Several Chinese nationals who previously worked in the Philippines and have now moved to Cambodia stated that they have
Philippine Senator Zhang Qiaowei publicly calls for stronger regulation of online gambling!
Philippine Senator Zhang Qiaowei urgently calls for: Strictly blocking illegal online gambling to prevent the resurgence of the 'POGO model'.
On July 1, Philippine Senator Zhang Qiaowei publicly called on the government to take stronger measures to prevent the resurgence of illegal online gambling platforms, especially to be vigilant about the risk of the "POGO model" re-emerging in the local cyberspace. He pointed out that despite multip
Former POGO employee joins scam industry, Philippines cracks down on 5,099 cybercrimes in six months
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) announced that in the first half of 2025, a total of 5,099 suspects involved in cybercrime were arrested nationwide, covering cases such as online fraud, identity theft, electronic wallet skimming, and AI investment scams, reflecting the
Philippine POGO Endgame: A Chronicle of the Rise and Fall of Cross-Border Gambling
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) began in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone in 2003, initially as a policy experiment modeled after European practices. Cagayan, relying on the "RA 7922 Act," gained licensing autonomy and attracted a large number of Chinese-funded platforms. The basic logi
Zhang Qiaowei calls for the eradication of local POGO scam gangs: 'Filipinos scamming Filipinos' has become a reality.
Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on June 26 issued a strong call for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to comprehensively crackdown on scam groups that were formerly breeding grounds for POGO (offshore gaming) and have now transitioned to localized operations. He pointed out that although th
China-Philippines high-level talks focus on POGO rectification, China and the Philippines may share a grey list.
As the Philippines continues to intensify its crackdown on POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), issues related to the Chinese "grey industry" are sparking high-level discussions. In mid-June, the Deputy Minister of the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Cruz, led a delegati
POGO bans unable to curb the spread of scams? Philippine police: Locals master scam techniques and shift to "underground operations"
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) stated on June 25 that the masterminds behind most of the recently cracked online fraud cases have shifted from foreigners to locals. Many suspects were previously employed by government-shutdown POGO companies, mastering the technology
Has the POGO Era Ended? China and the Philippines Join Forces to Crack Down on the Gray Market, Personal Information May Be Fully Traced
The Philippine POGO (offshore gaming) industry, once seen as a "gray gold rush paradise," is now heading towards a complete collapse. From high salaries, lax regulations, and quick money to deportations, scrutiny, and crackdowns, the times have completely changed. There used to be people who would "
Senior officials from China and the Philippines held talks on protection, strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation, and the regulation of POGOs enters "deep waters".
Recently, Gilberto Cruz, the Deputy Minister of the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), led a delegation to Shanghai, China, for a series of intensive talks with senior officials of the Chinese public security system. The core focus was on the joint rectification of Philippine offsho
Banned POGO but the gambling wave hasn't stopped? Philippine Senator urges the 20th Congress to investigate the chaos of local online gambling again.
Despite the Philippine Congress passing a bill that completely bans offshore gaming operators (POGO), Senator Alan Peter Cayetano recently warned that online gambling is still rapidly expanding within the Philippines, particularly with increased local betting, and the problem is far from over."Altho
Philippines Completely Bans POGO: The Gambling Industry Officially Becomes History, No Hope for Recovery in the Next Three to Five Years
In June 2025, a major legislation concerning the fate of Philippine offshore gaming was quietly passed with almost no controversy, yet it caused a huge upheaval within the gaming industry.The Philippine Senate and House of Representatives passed the "Anti-POGO Bill" almost unanimously. Once signed b
Philippines' crackdown on illegal POGO dilemma: Thousands of foreign workers hard to repatriate, claiming the biggest obstacle is due to embassy refusal.
The Philippine government continues to crack down on illegal offshore gambling (POGO), but faces significant obstacles in deporting foreign illegal workers. Deputy Minister Gilbert Cruz of the President's Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) recently revealed in a congressional hearing that despi
Will Marcos sign the "Anti-POGO Bill"? The Philippines reaches a critical crossroads in regulating offshore gambling.
On June 9, 2025, the Philippine Senate unanimously passed the "2025 Anti-POGO Act" with 23 votes. The following day, the House of Representatives also quickly followed suit, unanimously passing the bill. If signed by the president, this bill will officially become law, completely banning all forms
