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In Philippines, Chinese gambler-focused Pogos face fresh ban threat
- A Philippine senator wants to outlaw the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator sector, which caters to customers in mainland China
- His bill is the latest salvo in lawmakers’ long-running effort to rein in Pogos, which have been linked to human trafficking, kidnappings and scams
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The Philippines’ notorious offshore gaming hubs are back in the cross hairs amid a senator’s bid to ban the controversial operations that cater to Chinese customers and have been linked to a slew of criminal activities.
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In the bill he filed late last month, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) sector to be outlawed, citing a proliferation of human trafficking cases and online scams.
“While the Pogo industry has brought in revenue and jobs, the country has grappled with a surge in related crimes, raising concerns about the overall impact,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Friday.
His bill represents the latest salvo in Philippine lawmakers’ long-running effort to rein in Pogos, which exploded in recent years to encompass hundreds of operators before a crackdown reduced their numbers.
The sector – which takes advantage of the Philippines’ liberal gaming laws to target patrons in China, where gambling is illegal – has been linked to a string of crimes, including trafficking, kidnappings and prostitution.
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At the height of the Pogo boom, more than 300,000 Chinese workers were employed by the sector. But official estimates now put the number staying legally in the Philippines closer to 100,000-150,000.
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