Philippines Cracks Down on Illegal Online Gambling
The Philippines is intensifying its crackdown on illegal online gambling operations, following President Marcos’ order to ban all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The Department of the interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla, has issued a directive to local government units (LGUs) nationwide to report any remaining POGO or internet gaming license (IGL) activities within their jurisdictions.
In Memorandum Circular No. 2025-001, Remulla mandated LGUs to collaborate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and DILG field offices to ensure the complete eradication of these operations. The goal is a swift and peaceful closure of all remaining POGO and IGL entities.
Beyond simply shutting down operations, Remulla emphasized the importance of supporting affected workers.He instructed LGUs to work closely with a technical working group (TWG) to facilitate job retraining and reintegration programs for those displaced by the POGO ban.
Remulla set a deadline of January 10, 2025, for LGUs to submit comprehensive reports on their progress to the DILG Regional offices. He stated,”Submission of a final report in compliance with these directives not later than January 10,2025,through the DILG Regional offices,among others.”
Remulla previously declared the Philippines would be completely POGO-free by 2025, with all licenses revoked. He acknowledged the potential for illegal, underground operations to emerge after the December 15, 2024, deadline for official closures. He explained the strategy, saying, “Ganito iyan, two parts iyan. All licenses are cancelled, so POGO-free tayo; guerilla operations will flourish but we will go after them (This is how it works, there are two parts. All licenses are cancelled, so we are POGO-free, guerilla operations will flourish but we will go after them).”
the DILG, in conjunction with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the PNP, will actively pursue these illegal operations. The government aims to eliminate all remaining POGO activities, irrespective of their clandestine nature.
Despite concerns about potential economic impacts, Remulla expressed confidence that the loss of POGO revenue will be offset by enhanced revenue measures implemented by the Department of Finance (DOF).
This aggressive approach to eliminating illegal online gambling mirrors similar efforts in other countries to combat the illicit activities and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation. The Philippines’ commitment to a POGO-free future underscores its dedication to maintaining economic stability and upholding the rule of law.
