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PAGCOR To Meet with IGLs, Gov Agencies Regarding Offshore Gaming Ban

August 27, 2024 Philippines iGaming & Gambling

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will hold a crucial meeting today with all Internet Gaming Licensees and authorized representatives to discuss the proposed ban on offshore gaming operations. The August 27, 2024 gathering will take place at PAGCOR’s office in Pasay and will also include officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Bureau of Immigration.

According to an official memo from PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming Licensing Department, the meeting aims to address the details of the offshore gaming ban. Due to space constraints, only two representatives from each company will be allowed to attend.

This meeting follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s July announcement of a ban on the establishment of new Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), now known as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs). The immediate ban affects new POGO licenses but allows existing operators to continue until the end of the year. However, no specific legislation has been passed yet, leading PAGCOR to maintain the current status of offshore gaming operations until further details are provided.

Legal expert Atty. Vladimir Bedural told Inside Asian Gaming about the potential impact of the ban. He pointed out that for offshore gaming operators, if the policy is officially implemented, closure may be the only option.

Bedural suggested that suppliers currently serving POGOs might shift their focus to other sectors. Suppliers can pivot to servicing land-based casinos, gaming venue operators, and Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs). They would need to seek re-accreditation from PAGCOR for these new areas. “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,” said Bedural.

Read related article: All POGOs banned in PH by President Marcos