Philippines bans online casinos linked to illicit activities

Ferdinand Marcos, the president of the Philippines, has mandated the closure of a sizable channel of online games that have been linked to a number of unlawful activities.

Known locally as Pogos, little for Asian Offshore Gaming Operators, these virtual casinos mostly cater to people in mainland China, where wagering is illegal.

However, it has been extremely discovered that they have been used as a support for illegal activities, from phone scams to human trafficking.

They flourished under Mr Marcos ‘ president, Rodrigo Duterte, who pushed for friendly ties with China during his word.

In his quarterly target to congress on Monday, Mr Marcos called for the “desecration of our country]to] stop”.

” Disguising as legitimate companies, their procedures have ventured into illicit places furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, trafficking, human trafficking, theft, brutal rape, perhaps death”, he said.

By the end of the year, the Philippines ‘ gaming regulator announced on Tuesday that it would revoke Pogos ‘ licenses and shut down the industry.

The Pogo market is made up of over 400 licensed and unlicensed clothes, employing 40, 000 persons directly and indirectly, according to federal estimates.

The industry brings in an estimated 166.5bn pesos ($ 2.9bn, £2.2bn ) of revenue a year, factoring in tax and gaming revenues- lower than its estimated economic costs of 266bn pesos annually.

Corporations and Pogos-related workers have been contacted by The BBC, but they have not commented.

Recently, a Pogo in a small city was discovered to be a front for a con center, raising the issue of the alleged connection between Pogos and legal jewelry.

Alice Guo, the town’s president, is accused of spying on China and is now alleged to be hiding.

Pogos have also been linked to clandestine hospitals, with authorities saying such hospitals were offering their services to those working in such online casinos, offering plastic surgery services to fugitives and scam centre workers to help them evade arrest.

Mr. Marcos has reverted Manila’s pivot to China and moved closer to the US, the country’s ancient ally, since taking over from Mr. Duterte.

Some experts believe that the ban may also serve as another try to angle the Philippines from China.

Both nations are now at odds with one another over the South China Sea, with conflicts rising steadily in recent months.

” Pogos ‘ presence has ceased to be a simple issue of law and order.” It has been linked to China’s creeping’ job’ of the Philippines for common Filipinos”, Jean Encinas-Franco, a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman told the BBC.

She added that Mr. Marcos ‘ decision will also be viewed as a “rebuke to the empty Pogo coverage of the previous leadership,” which could help him win more votes before a crucial mid-term vote in 2025.

Geographically, the ban has been cheered as being good for business.

According to industry minister of the Philippines, Alferdo Pascual told local media that it makes the nation “more appealing to those who are seeking amusement… because Pogo creates a negative impression, leading to assault.”

Pogos is a business that “brings in the kind of people we do n’t want,” according to George Barcelon, chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It threatens our country’s spiritual foundation.