A news report took a look at the Philippines’ largest POGO hub, which has now been shut down due to the government’s industry crackdown.
Once a bustling center of offshore gaming activity, a 30-hectare property in Cavite known as Island Cove now sits eerily silent. The former Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub, once the biggest in the country, succumbed to the government's crackdown on the industry and shuttered its doors on December 17, 2024.
Island Cove's story is intertwined with the rise and fall of the POGO industry in the Philippines. Previously owned by the Remulla family, the property was sold in 2018 to First Orient International Ventures Corporation, a company reportedly owned by the children of junket operator Kim Wong. The sprawling complex housed 57 buildings and catered to four POGO licensees at its peak.
A recent video surfaced online, offering a glimpse into the deserted halls of what was once a hive of POGO activity. The condos that once housed thousands of workers now stand empty, while the offices, warehouses, restaurants, and resort that formed the lifeblood of the complex lie dormant.
Island Cove is nestled in front of Sangley Point, where the country's naval forces sets its ships. Its management denied allegations of espionage, adding that its operations were legitimate before they shut down.
ABS-CBN reporter Zyann Ambrosio described it as a "self-sustaining" community like many similar POGO hubs, such as a water station, laundry stations and plenty of restaurants.
The POGO hub had around 10 restaurants sprawled across the complex, according to general manager Ron Lim. With the number of employees working indirectly with the POGO hub due to the restaurants, Lim estimates that around 10,000 have lost their jobs.
Department of the Interior and Local Government chief and former Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla relived memories off Island Cove, back when it used to be a resort under their property.
"I was only seven when we started this [resort]," Remulla recalled.
President Ferdinand Marcos earlier ordered POGOs shut down by the end of 2024, through his State of the Nation Address in the middle of the year. He later formalized this in November through Executive Order 74.
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