Executive Order (EO) No. 74, issued by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is a major regulatory action that immediately forbids all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and associated offshore gaming operations in the nation. The EO, which was signed on November 5, requires a full wind-down of all POGO operations by December 31, 2024, and formalizes the ban that was first announced during Marcos’ State of the Nation Address in July.
The comprehensive directive effectively encompasses all operators who provide online gambling services to global audiences, including POGO licensees as well as businesses categorized under the more recent classification of Internet gambling Licensees (IGLs). Both POGOs and IGLs have been criticized for their supposed ties to organized crime, which the Marcos administration emphasized as the main reason for the prohibition. The EO also attempts to remove any uncertainty regarding which entities are subject to the prohibition by establishing a clear structure.
According to PhilStar, the EO also specifies and limits a number of ancillary services related to offshore gaming. POGO Gaming Agents for offshore licensees, POGO service providers (such as local business process outsourcing (BPO) centers), and companies that offer IT or strategic assistance, live studio streaming, or gaming software for offshore operations are all included in this. The EO emphasizes that all online games of chance, including online sports betting, random number generator games, and live-streamed e-casino games, are only intended for participants who are not from the Philippines. Government crackdowns will intensify as any POGO or IGL operating without the proper authorization is now considered illegal.
Coordination Across Agencies For Offshore Gaming
Two technical working groups (TWGs) have been established to efficiently carry out the EO’s mandates. Eliminating unlicensed POGO operations, monitoring infractions, and organizing the deportation of any foreign people engaged in illegal gaming activities are the main objectives of the Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations Working Group. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will serve as the vice-chair of this TWG, which will be led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
The second group, the Employment Recovery and Reintegration Working Group, is responsible for helping displaced people in the industry find new jobs and reskill and upskill in order to lessen the economic impact of the ban. This committee, which is anticipated to handle the employment disruption that will follow the termination of POGO activities, is chaired by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and vice-chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).