Philippines Bans All Online Gaming Operators
The President of the Philippines has reinforced his edict earlier in the year and officially banned all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators from the end of the year.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told the operators to wind down their business and cease trading, no ifs or buts, with an Executive Order banning all offshore and online gaming activity in the country.
Companies like SBOBET, Mansion88 and Bet365 have been forced to comply with the draconian new laws that were a direct response to complaints of gross violations by the industry as a whole. They went well beyond simple shenanigans: the industry stood accused of money laundering on an industrial scale, human trafficking, torture, fraud and other serious crimes.
In June 2024, Philippine authorities conducted a significant raid on Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Porac, Pampanga. There was serious speculation that an incinerator found on site had been used to dispose of human remains, although there was no hard evidence. Chinese national Lin Xunhan, also known as Boss Boga, was later arrested and charged with using the gambling business as a front for human trafficking and a litany of other crimes.
With the Department of Finance and Anti Money Laundering Council firmly set against the online gaming industry, the notoriously strict government drafted a complete ban in July. The announcement was made during Marcos’ State of the Nation Address. In his speech, Marcos said: “Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year.”
Now the President has passed the Executive Order and there is no hope for the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. The party is effectively over.
SBOBET also held an Isle of Man gaming license and will continue its European operations. Bet365 holds multiple licenses and simply relocated its Asian operations to other jurisdictions, as did M88. Bet365 has strengthened its base in Malta and also unveiled new US headquarters in Denver, Colorado recently.
The international gambling giants have found a way round this ban, then, but there will be casualties in the Asian igaming market. The Philippine’s loss could yet be Europe’s gain, as the companies turn their attention to other markets. Quite how the UK Gambling Commission would deal with human trafficking and torture allegations are another question entirely.
