President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos said. He then ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to diminish and stop all POGO operations by this year.
In addition, Marcos directed the Department of Labor and Employment, along with the administration’s economic managers, to allocate time to help Filipinos facing displacement find new jobs.
Despite emphasizing that banning POGOs would address many of the country’s problems, Marcos acknowledged that “it will not solve all of them.”
With increasing opposition to POGOs, as some lawmakers highlight their contribution to various crimes in the country, Marcos’ statement about POGOs was a highly anticipated topic in his speech. Critics from political groups, business institutions, and the economic sector have pointed out the low economic contribution of POGOs compared to their negative associations with criminal activities, including kidnapping, human trafficking, and money laundering.
Moreover, POGOs have contributed to rising real estate costs, making housing less accessible. The calls for Marcos to ban POGOs have been further fueled by concerns about national security and regulatory compliance.