Topic: PH Senator pushes a Ban to POGOs and All Sort of Online Gambling... (Read 595 times)

PAGCOR could not shut them down immediately because they are benefiting from the operation; that's how corrupt the government agency is. They are the ones regulating it, but they failed to see that these POGOs have already become a haven for scammers. And Philippine law is not strict in enforcement, so the operators aren’t too worried. Just imagine—they invested billions of money into this, and the government would just stop it immediately? It’s not fair. I think the main problem here is the lack of regulation by PAGCOR. That’s what they need to improve, rather than stopping the operation when the government is greatly benefiting from it.

PAGCOR could not shut them down immediately because they are benefiting from the operation; that's how corrupt the government agency is. They are the ones regulating it, but they failed to see that these POGOs have already become a haven for scammers. And Philippine law is not strict in enforcement, so the operators aren’t too worried. Just imagine—they invested billions of money into this, and the government would just stop it immediately? It’s not fair. I think the main problem here is the lack of regulation by PAGCOR. That’s what they need to improve, rather than stopping the operation when the government is greatly benefiting from it.

Still a long way to go before there is going to be a blanket ban on POGO. And even if the President ordered it, might take sometime, they will have to enact a law first before they can shut it down for good.

And then they will have to cooperate with PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), so it's not at easy as it sounds. And base on other reports, some of the legal POGO's are still operating as of this time because they haven't seen any notice yet from PAGCOR. And we have seen odds as well of online gambling proliferating in Facebook that includes the legendary Manny Pacquiao.

Whattt is this real a gambling had to do with all of this I mean money laundry I know a lot but human trafficking and even murder is beyond my understanding. But if this really true banning them I think is a good idea or at least put strict rule to gambling operator.

because if i look your thread it only happen to illegal gambling right?

Banning POGOs and online gambling is like taking the easiest way out and depriving the Philippine government of the possible revenue that can be generated from these ventures and as if this kind of bill will prevent illegal gambling from existing in a country.

The proposed bill is due to the recent illegal POGO raids where human trafficking, murder, and money laundering were uncovered. Due to this, one of the Philippine senators believes that the best move is to ban POGOs and online gambling all in all and punish any person who is involved in online gambling activity if the bill is approved.

The thread opened two months ago and there has been no activity for months. Is there any update about banning POGO and all online gambling? If they really accept the ban offer then they will lose huge revenue for banning Pogo as well as online gambling. I think they should not ban that but to avoid money laundering, and trafficking they should monitor it.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday announced a total ban on all offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, saying these have been linked to illegal activities including money laundering and financial scams.

“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” he said during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), referring to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

He also ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to wind down and end the operations of all POGO facilities by the end of 2024. He also ordered the Labor department to find new jobs for POGO workers that will be displaced.

Many government officials made a lot of money from receiving bribes. The POGO industry is a multi-billion industry, and corrupt officials know this very well, so they made it their cash cow. If the operation of POGO continues, we will see many Chinese faking their citizenship to run for local officials, like the case of one Chinese Alice Guo, who faked her citizenship to run and eventually win as the mayor of one town in the Philippines.

In another five years of POGO operation, many Chinese will run many towns in the Philippines, and that could become a worse scenario and an invasion of many cities in the Philippines. I'm glad that POGO is banned, and all those perpetrators, including corrupt officials, will now face charges.

Reference : Four more witnesses emerge vs raided POGO

That's true. PAGCOR is the one providing licenses to the POGO, but they lack monitoring. It's understandable since the Philippines isn't too tech-savvy yet, and crypto and online gambling seem new to them. The government is always late with digital trends due to a lack of training, and probably one big reason is corruption. When a country is corrupt, as the Philippines is, public service is slow. I wouldn't be surprised if PAGCOR, which is supposed to regulate the POGO, is accepting bribes from the operators, making them unable to do their job well.

Previous administration is protecting this sector due to the profit they can get from POGO. But since election is near again, Politicians is now doing their job to take down POGO to boost their influence to the citizens.

The one that gives them license should be blamed because POGO will not operate in a shady if they are being regulated properly and not just giving them license without doing thorough audit.

I believe PAGCOR gives them license which should be blame for not doing an audit.

this make sense ,  because finally after thousand of controversies ? now the government is acting to what is best and better for their people .

The proposed bill is due to the recent illegal POGO raids where human trafficking, murder, and money laundering were uncovered. Due to this, one of the Philippine senators believes that the best move is to ban POGOs and online gambling all in all and punish any person who is involved in online gambling activity if the bill is approved.

I know this thread has been dead for several weeks and I am not sure if anyone is interested but there has been an update about it today. the Philippine president announced that POGO is banned effective today during his SONA.

for anyone curious and want more info about it, here's an article.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/914272/marcos-announces-ban-on-all-pogo/story/

POGO could have been a good asset to the Philippines if they ran it properly but stupid and corrupt officials ruined it and made it a haven for illegal activities for the Chinese.

This is very bad for the people who love online gambling in the Philippines.  A senator of the Philippines proposes a Bill to ban all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) and all kinds of Online Gambling.  Any individual involved  will be fined  up to Php500k(US$8,536) or imprisoned for up to six months. More story on the link below:

Philippines senator pushes for banning POGOs, all forms of online gambling

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The proposed bill is due to the recent illegal POGO raids where human trafficking, murder, and money laundering were uncovered. Due to this, one of the Philippine senators believes that the best move is to ban POGOs and online gambling all in all and punish any person who is involved in online gambling activity if the bill is approved.

In my personal view, I do not think there is a need to ban POGO's and online gambling.  This is not the fault of a regular individual but the institution behind the gambling regulatory board.  Instead of banning and penalizing people who are engaged in gambling activities, the bill should strengthen the regulation and purge the institution of any corrupt official that allows these illegal activities to proliferate.  He should implement a bill that will severely punish any government official that engage in illegal gambling activities. Banning POGOs and online gambling is like taking the easiest way out and depriving the Philippine government of the possible revenue that can be generated from these ventures and as if this kind of bill will prevent illegal gambling from existing in a country. I hope this kind of bill won't progress instead take an alternative implementation of cleansing the gambling regulatory board of any corrupt official and holding them accountable for their wicked crimes.

What about you do you think banning offshore gambling operators and online gambling will solve the spread of illegal gambling activities in a country?

This is very bad for the people who love online gambling in the Philippines.  A senator of the Philippines proposes a Bill to ban all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) and all kinds of Online Gambling.  Any individual involved  will be fined  up to Php500k(US$8,536) or imprisoned for up to six months.

edited

The proposed bill is due to the recent illegal POGO raids where human trafficking, murder, and money laundering were uncovered. Due to this, one of the Philippine senators believes that the best move is to ban POGOs and online gambling all in all and punish any person who is involved in online gambling activity if the bill is approved.

In my personal view, I do not think there is a need to ban POGO's and online gambling.  This is not the fault of a regular individual but the institution behind the gambling regulatory board.  Instead of banning and penalizing people who are engaged in gambling activities, the bill should strengthen the regulation and purge the institution of any corrupt official that allows these illegal activities to proliferate.  He should implement a bill that will severely punish any government official that engage in illegal gambling activities. Banning POGOs and online gambling is like taking the easiest way out and depriving the Philippine government of the possible revenue that can be generated from these ventures and as if this kind of bill will prevent illegal gambling from existing in a country. I hope this kind of bill won't progress instead take an alternative implementation of cleansing the gambling regulatory board of any corrupt official and holding them accountable for their wicked crimes.

What about you do you think banning offshore gambling operators and online gambling will solve the spread of illegal gambling activities in a country?

Yes, I also had the same impression that this is just a front for the Chinese to infiltrate the Philippines in case that there will be a arm conflict between the two nations. Those building are huge with underground and so they will really need to be strict as to who can enter their countries specially Chinese. And now that one mayor has been suspended if I'm not mistaken as she is proven to be Chinese, maybe a mole and a protector of this Pogo hub.

So you can't blame the Philippine government for acting this way. Maybe this is temporary or it could really be the end of this POGO in the country and then start accounting everything before it got out of hand.

I think it is more about the concern for national security, there have been a lot of Chinese doing illegal activities in the Philippines who are usually connected to one of the companies in POGO. right now there is even a case going on against a government official(a mayor) in the Philippines who is suspected of being a Chinese spy and having a connection to POGO companies and POGO-related crimes.

POGO could really be good for the Philippines if the government handles it properly and does not let stupid corrupt officials manage it.

This has to be due to something related to taxation of POGOs. Government there does collect taxes but maybe they are not coughing up enough need to cover it. Due to this they are attempting to ban them. These things are often temporary and they will try to reestablish legal operations soon after some bribery to pay off this. Eventually they will move to illegal operations to continue the flow of money.

Nothing much we can do about it, for addicted gamblers who might feel bad, they will just use casinos other then ones by POGOs. Laws like these only make the news, eventually they get changed. So keep calm and continue playing.