PAGCOR to ban POGO hubs in latest effort to clean up Philippines offshore gaming industry
Friday 12 de July 2024 / 12:00
⏱ 2 min read
(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
AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026
18 de May 2026
AffPapa Conference 2026 Opens in Madrid with Expanded Agenda
(Madrid, SoloAzar Exclusive).- Madrid welcomes the biggest edition of AffPapa Conference yet, bringing together over 1,500 affiliates, operators, and B2B providers for three days of networking, sports, and iGaming insights. The official welcome takes place today, and SoloAzar is on site to deliver the latest updates.
Tuesday 19 May 2026 / 12:00
AffPapa Welcomes Amusnet as a Signature Sponsor for AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026
(Madrid).- AffPapa is excited to welcome Amusnet as a Signature Sponsor at the AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026.
Monday 11 May 2026 / 12:00
AffPapa Conference Madrid Set to Be Largest Affiliate-Led Event Yet, Says its CEO Levon Nikoghosyan
(Madrid, SoloAzar Exclusive).- SoloAzar sat down with Levon Nikoghosyan, CEO and co-founder of AffPapa and iGaming Club, to discuss the upcoming AffPapa Conference Madrid, where more than 1,500 participants are expected. In this interview, he explains why Madrid was chosen over Málaga, what attendees can expect from speed‑dating sessions, expert panels, and off‑site networking, and how the event is shaping up to be the biggest in AffPapa’s history.
Thursday 07 May 2026 / 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.
