Philippines' PAOCC Strives to Eliminate Unlawful POGO Operations by Year-End 2025
Title: Ending the Illegal Gambling Chaos in the Philippines by 2025: A Tough Journey Ahead
By: Luke 'the Brush' Dunn02/19/2025 06:11 World Photo by The Blue Diamond Gallery, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key Points
- The PAOCC is on a mission to wipe out illegal POGOs by the year's end
- Most operations have scaled down significantly after last year's cleanup
- Rescues remain a priority as illegal ventures continue to shut down
Luke Dunn hails from the Garden State, New Jersey. With over half a decade of Content Creation under his belt, Luke has been delivering compelling work on casino, software provider, and game reviews, news, and blogs. Luke's global reach spans clients from the US, UK, NZ, AUS, SA, and Canada. Apart from his writing stint, Luke was once a psychology student at Rutgers University. On a whim, he picked up a paintbrush, following in his old man's footsteps. Today, he splits his time between penning words and dipping brushes.
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Background:The Philippine government's fight against illicit Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) has shown variable results as of Q2 2025. While enforcement actions persist, operational complexities and policy developments are reshaping the battlefield:
Crackdown Details
- Operational hurdles: Ongoing raids face hindrances due to overstuffed detention centers[3][5].
- Web blocking: The DICT-NTC's "Project Clean Sweep" (January 2025) geo-barred 18,475 gaming domains, with weekly cross-checks[4].
- Legal reforms: Senate Bill 2038 aims to tighten control via a new e-Gaming Authority, while revised PAGCOR regulations decreased licensees from 71 to 36 (June 2024)[4].
Sector Impact
- Industry compression: License reductions and financial reserves have heightened financial strains on operators[4].
- Labor squabbles: A recent Supreme Court ruling (October 2024) allows foreign POGO workers to file local wage claims, exposing bosses to greater scrutiny[4].
- Regulatory fine-tuning: PAGCOR retained ISO 9001:2015 certification through rigorous audits, hinting at enhanced supervision mechanisms[5].
Reports do not mention specific activities by the PAOCC, hinting that enforcement is primarily handled by PAGCOR, DICT, and NBI. The 2025 deadline appears optimistic given detention space constraints and pending legislation. Current efforts concentrate on monetary regulations, technology-driven bans, and labor protections instead of a complete eradication.
- Despite the PAOCC's mission to eliminate illegal POGOs by the end of the year, operational challenges such as overcrowded detention centers are hindering ongoing raids.
- Luke 'the Brush' Dunn, a copywriter with extensive experience in the casino industry, reported on the ongoing crackdown against illegal POGOs in the Philippines, including the geo-barring of 18,475 gaming domains under the DICT-NTC's "Project Clean Sweep".
- The war on illegal POGOs in the Philippines is not just about politics and law enforcement, but also involves complex issues like labor rights, as a recent Supreme Court ruling now allows foreign POGO workers to file local wage claims.
- As the 2025 deadline for ending the illegal gambling chaos in the Philippines approaches, free spins and general news might become increasingly rare, as the Philippine government continues to implement stringent regulations and technological bans on POGO operations.
