POGO Employee Work Permits Valid Until Yearend

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced that employment permits for foreign and local workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will remain valid only until December 31, 2024.

According to the Philippine Star, this adjustment was approved by PAGCOR CEO Alejandro Tengco on August 15, 2024.

This shortens the original three-year validity period of these licenses. POGOs were rebranded as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) on July 12, 2023. Only 43 of the existing POGOs at the time were allowed to continue operations as IGLs.

The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to ban all POGO operations in the Philippines. In his July 22, 2024 State of the Nation Address, Marcos cited “grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws” as the rationale for the ban. Tengco confirmed that this decision will lead to significant repercussions, including a projected PHP 23 billion (approximately $408 million) revenue loss and the potential loss of up to 40,000 jobs.

Tengco admitted that the enforcement of the POGO ban will be challenging, but it is necessary to address the issues associated with POGOs. He acknowledged that while the ban aims to curb illegal activities, it will also have a profound economic impact.

Previously, the Bureau of Immigration had imposed a 60-day deadline for foreign nationals working in POGOs to exit the country. However, this deadline was recently suspended by the Department of Justice to align with the government’s plan to phase out the industry by year-end.

In response to the evolving regulatory landscape, PAGCOR has been working to manage the transition smoothly while addressing the challenges posed by the abrupt end to POGO operations.

Read related article: DOJ Suspends 60-Day Deadline for POGO Workers Amid Plans to Phase Out Industry