Metro Manila City issues ban on POGOs, other kinds of online gambling

Valenzuela City, one of the 16 component cities of Metro Manila with a population of more than 600,000, issues a ban on POGOs. The city government also extends the ban to other forms of online gambling

With details from Dempsey Reyes for Inquirer.net

In the newest development of the Philippine government’s campaign against online gambling operations, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian made the announcement of the ban to reporters Wednesday.

Small-town lotteries (STL), online cockfighting, online bingo, and other forms of online gambling were likewise included in the ban. Note that there are no existing POGOs in the city and that the ban was a ‘preemptive measure’

Recently, a POGO hub in the country was raided by the Philippine Police. The raid led to the rescue of 1,284 foreign nationals and 1,534 Filipinos. The POGO hub was suspected to be the site of human trafficking and crypto scam activities. Four Chinese fugitives are scheduled to be deported this week.

Last year, Pasig City, another city in Metro Manila, also instituted a city-wide ban on all POGO and online gambling operations, including technical services in support of the ban. All gambling operations must be out of the city by the end of 2023.

National government figures have also made pronouncements in support of these recent developments against POGOs, with the country’s Finance Secretary saying that the revenue is not worth retaining the industry.

Senators have likewise urged the Marcos government to issue an absolute ban, with one senator saying that online gambling operators get away with ‘billions of unpaid taxes.

In a similar vein, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also said in January this year that POGOs are not ‘worth the social cost’ but also added that it was the illicit POGOs that are problematic, not the legal ones.

“It’s not a huge part of our economy. And if it’s adjudged that there is a social cost, it might not be worth it. The cost might not be worth what they’re paying in taxes anymore,” the President said.

“The problem is the illegal ones, not the legal ones. The legal ones pay their bills, pay their taxes,” he said in January.

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