Pogo sector poised for comeback

The Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) industry may soon stage a comeback after a two-year slump, now that local tax regulations are in place and travel restrictions are easing, real estate veteran David Leechiu said.

The president of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said that for the first time in 24 months, his group was about to close its first Pogo office property leasing deal.

“[It’s a] credible, sizable, chunky Pogo deal and when we sign this contract, we will throw a very big party in the office to celebrate this milestone achievement,” Leechiu said in a forum with the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines last week.

The Pogo industry boomed in the early years of the Duterte administration, but the growth was spoiled by a confluence of tax uncertainties, COVID-19 pandemic-related travel bans and crackdowns in China.

As gambling is illegal in China, it became more difficult for its nationals to work in overseas Pogos.In the last two years, the Pogo industry has vacated about 500,000 square meters (sq m) of office space.

Source: https://business.inquirer.net/340376/pogo-sector-poised-for-comeback