The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) has claimed the full eradication of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) nationwide just over a year after a complete ban came into effect.
In comments to local reporters, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said enforcement efforts since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr first announced the ban in mid-2024 had proved successful. The ban became fully effective as of 1 January 2025.
“There are no official POGOs left. Definitely, there are no illegal POGOs either. That is the policy of the government – no POGO operations in the Philippines,” Vida said, reported by The Manila Times.
The ban on POGOs was imposed amid widespread evidence that an industry designed to license online gaming operators to provide services offshore had essentially been hijacked by criminal organizations conducting illegal activities that included scams and human trafficking.
While Vida expressed confidence that all operations had been detected and closed down, he added that monitoring efforts are ongoing to ensure no POGO operations spring back up in the future.
This is, he said, in line with a broader government policy aimed at safeguarding communities, reducing avenues for crime, and addressing security and economic concerns linked to the POGO industry.
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