Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR will host a meeting of all Internet Gaming Licensees and Authorized Representatives today to discuss details of the proposed ban on offshore gaming operations.
According to an official memo from PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming Licensing Department, the meeting will also be attended by representatives from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment and the Bureau of Immigration at the PAGCOR’s office in Pasay.
The memo says attendees will “discuss matters … regarding the banning of Offshore Gaming in the Philippines” although it states only two representatives per company will be permitted due to space limitations.
The meeting comes after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in July announced a ban on the establishment of any new Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), also known as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), with immediate effect.
Existing operators were given until the end of the year to wind down their operations, however with no related law having yet been passed, PAGCOR has since clarified that offshore gaming operations would remain in “status quo” until details on the POGO ban are clarified.
Leading lawyer and consultant, Atty Vladimir F. Bedural, told IAG that the proposed POGO ban created some uncertainty for many other companies operating around the nation’s offshore industry.
“For offshore gaming operators, assuming the policy statement is [made official], there is no other option but to close,” he said. “But for suppliers, they will now have to justify their existence before PAGCOR and they can do this by saying that they are also servicing non-POGO companies. These non-POGO companies can be land-based casinos, gaming venue operators, and PIGOs.
“So, for suppliers who are servicing POGOs and are impacted by the total ban, they can divert to PIGOs and other casinos and they just need to request PAGCOR for re-accreditation. The POGO assets will be repurposed towards PIGO operations.”
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