THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) yesterday said only 17 licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) remain in operation following the President’s announcement to ban all offshore gaming businesses by yearend.
Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco, in a conference in Makati City, committed that there will be no more licensed POGOs operating by the end of this year.
The number of licensed POGOs reached a peak of 298 in 2019 and was reduced to 48 early this year.
“We basically were tasked only to close 48 because 250 had already been declared illegal as we have either not renewed or had already cancelled their licenses. By December, it will definitely be down to zero,” Tengco said.
“By January 1, 2025, all these operators that will still continue to operate, either elsewhere or in the different provinces, they’re all deemed illegal already. All their licenses are cancelled (by then),” he added.
Based on Pagcor documents, the 17 licensed POGOs or internet gaming licensees that are still in operation are 12 Stars International Gaming Solutions Inc., Best Commerce Corp., Cronyx Inc., Dynamic Studio Technology Inc., Dynamic System International Limited, Frontier Point Management Solutions Inc., Gamma Interactive Inc., Intelligent Optical Solution Inc., KNW Technology Inc., Mpotech Digital System, Inc., Neo Incorporated, New Oriental Club88 Corp., Phoenixfield Inc., Sohu Expert Int’l Management Solutions Inc., Victory 88 Group Ltd. Inc., Wanfang Technology Management Inc. and Gao Shou Technology Management Inc.
“While the reduction in licensed POGOs marks progress, it also highlights deeper, more systemic issues that we must address,” Tengco said.
“Simply eradicating POGOs is not enough. We need to come together to develop comprehensive, long-term solutions to this growing crisis. This includes strengthening governance, improving regulation and addressing the root causes that have allowed these criminal networks to thrive,” he added.
