Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14) — Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) should be given one more chance to prove these foreign-owned online casinos can generate income and jobs for the Philippines, the head of the state-run gaming agency said on Monday.
Alam niyo naman naghihikahos ang ekonomiya natin at pa-recover pa lang, eh,” Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said Monday. “Palagay ko wala namang masama na bigyan sila ng huling pagkakataon to prove if it’s really a worthy industry to support.[Translation: You know that our economy is struggling and it is still recovering. I think there is no harm in giving them one last chance to prove if it’s really a worthy industry to support.]The PAGCOR chief made the case before Congress as the House appropriations committee sought the closure of POGOs amid findings of increased crime incidence, violation of immigration and human trafficking laws, and non-payment of taxes.Tengco argued that from zero collection in fines, PAGCOR already gathered over $1 million in fines and penalties from POGO operations in the first six months of 2023, while tax revenues from the industry are expected to hit up to P4.5 billion this year.He said POGOs employ 48,000 foreign nationals, almost matching the 50,000 Filipinos the industry has hired so that the ratio of foreign-to-local workforce is 1:1.I don’t want to say this is the final chance I am giving to all the licensees. But that is why we have placed all our licensees in a probationary status and I have warned them that this is a one-strike policy, and that if they will continue to be involved in illegal activities such as credit card scams, crypto scams, love match scams and whatever different scams then I will have no recourse but to recommend the closure of the industry,” Tengco explained.At least 1,000 foreign nationals had been repatriated to their home countries following PAGCOR’s closure of POGO operations within the Clark Development Corporation property, north of Manila, he added.By PAGCOR’s reckoning, there are 32 POGO licensees left and over 100 companies that cater to these licensees via ancillary services, Tengco told lawmakers.
