China Urges Philippines to Ban “Social Ill” POGOs

Chinese embassy in Manila has requested that Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGOs) be outlawed, calling them a “social ill.”

The declaration from June 14th highlights China’s strict gambling regulations and its campaign against its people who engage in POGOs outside.

The embassy notes that ongoing law enforcement cooperation to combat cross-border gaming and fraud counters the allegation that POGOs harm both countries’ image and ties.

China claims to have assisted in the closure of five POGO hubs in the past year, repatriating about 1,000 Chinese people, and to have repatriated nearly 3,000 citizens involved in illicit operations since 2018.

Although China denies any involvement in POGO-related claims, it portrays its nationals as victims and requests that POGOs be outlawed “at an early date” in the Philippines to end this “social ill.”

Original Story by: Asian Gaming Brief