PAGCOR to ban POGO hubs in latest effort to clean up Philippines offshore gaming industry
Friday 12 de July 2024 / 12:00
2 minutos de lectura
(Manila).- Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR will ban POGO hubs as part of its efforts to clean up the nation’s controversial offshore gaming industry.
Speaking at a Senate inquiry into POGOs on Wednesday, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said that although he couldn’t guarantee that bad actors would no longer look to engage in illegal activities, the regulator would look to make such activities more difficult by banning hubs and increasing monitoring of the 43 companies that currently hold offshore gaming licenses – now known as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs).
“We’re coming out with certain guidelines. We’re already banning hubs,” Tengco said, as reported by the Inquirer.
“In the meantime, there is no order for closure but I can inform everybody that we will not allow any hub existing or going to be applied for. We will not approve it anymore because we want [IGLs] to be site specific and building specific.”
The concept of self-contained POGO hubs was introduced in 2019 under the previous PAGCOR regime, with the regulator stating at that time that such hubs would make POGOs easier to regulate while also limiting interactions between Chinese workers and local Filipinos.
However, the hubs themselves have become highly controversial following a series of raids amid reports of illegal activities, most recently at a hub in Pampanga last month said to be involved in human trafficking.
According to Tengco, PAGCOR will have round the clock teams monitoring its licensed IGLs.
“Hopefully that can deter, hopefully if we notice anything, we can immediately report it to the police, he said.
“But it’s difficult for me to say in this hall and in front of everyone here that this will be the last [incident] because if there is really a criminal intent, then I can no longer monitor it.”
Categoría:Others
Tags: Sin tags
País: Philippines
Región: Asia
Event
SBC Summit Americas 2025
13 de May 2025
Redefining Innovation: Soft2Bet’s Market-Ready Tech and Experiential Advancements at SBC Summit Americas
(Fort Lauderdale, SoloAzar Exclusive).- In this Q&A, Slobodan Georgijevski, Soft2Bet Senior Sales Manager, highlighted innovation and presence of the firm at recent SBC Summit Americas, and shared a broader industry insight and evolution over the years.
Friday 06 Jun 2025 / 12:00
Belatra Games Unveils 'Cyber Gypsies' and AI-Driven Innovations at SBC Summit Americas 2025
(Fort Lauderdale, SoloAzar Exclusive).- At SBC Summit Americas 2025, Belatra Games took center stage with groundbreaking innovations, introducing its newest slot experience, Cyber Gypsies. Alongside this thrilling launch, it reinforced its commitment to AI, gamification, and player protection, setting a new standard for engaging and responsible gaming. But what makes these innovations stand out, and how is Belatra redefining industry trends? Let’s dive in.
Thursday 05 Jun 2025 / 12:00
Blokotech at SBC Summit Americas: Cutting-Edge Launches and New Features
(Fort Lauderdale, SoloAzar Exclusive).- In an exclusive interview with SoloAzar, Alberto Alfieri, Blokotech Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, discussed the innovations the company presented at SBC Summit Americas 2025 and how they address the industry's evolving needs, among other topics.
Monday 02 Jun 2025 / 12:00
SUSCRIBIRSE
Para suscribirse a nuestro newsletter, complete sus datos
Reciba todo el contenido más reciente en su correo electrónico varias veces al mes.