Over 41,000 Individuals Held for Unlawful Gambling Activities Across the Philippines in 2023
The Philippines is witnessing a significant shift in its gaming industry, with the government led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. prioritizing stricter regulations and enforcement against illegal gambling activities.
POGO Crackdowns and Deportations
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has taken a firm stance against illegal foreign workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), deporting over 100 individuals linked to criminal syndicates, cybercrime, and human trafficking. This move is part of a broader campaign to protect national security and enforce immigration laws related to POGOs.
Legislative and Regulatory Efforts
The government is considering stricter regulations on iGaming, including a proposed new tax aimed at funding problem gambling services. Proposed legislation such as the Comprehensive Anti-Illegal Gambling Act seeks to consolidate penalties and empower digital enforcement for illegal gambling platforms.
Challenges in Enforcement
Authorities face jurisdictional complications because many illegal gambling apps are hosted abroad. Technological evasion tactics like VPNs, mirror sites, and cryptocurrency use complicate efforts to block illegal platforms. Corruption allegations within POGO regulation and cultural acceptance of gambling further impede enforcement.
Multi-agency Cooperation and Use of Technology
Crackdowns involve multi-agency task forces, including immigration, police, and anti-trafficking councils. PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) is enhancing AI monitoring for illegitimate sites and ordered the removal of gambling billboards to reduce illegal gambling promotion.
Focus on eSabong
While details on enforcement against eSabong (online cockfighting) are scarce, it is clear that it forms part of the broader illegal gambling crackdown. Anticipation is high for stricter laws and public awareness campaigns in the future.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Role
Though specific actions by the PNP were not extensively covered, the PNP is implicitly part of multi-agency enforcement teams tackling illegal gambling. Their challenges include keeping up with technological innovations and working within current legislative frameworks, which are undergoing revisions to better empower them.
Ongoing Issues and Future Challenges
Many POGO operators have been accused of human trafficking, exploitation, coercion, and other crimes. Certain forms of online gambling, once popular, have been fraught with corruption, leading to their cancellation. Lawmakers in the Philippines are seeking a complete ban on POGOs. The PNP's Anti-Cybercrime Group has been working intensely to stop illegal gambling. The Clark Security Advisory Council emerged from a recent scandal involving over 1,000 human trafficking victims.
In summary, the Philippine government is actively intensifying crackdowns on illegal gambling, especially illegal POGO operations and clandestine online gambling apps, through deportations, stricter regulations, inter-agency cooperation, and advanced monitoring technologies. However, enforcement is challenged by technological evasion, legal gaps, and corruption risks. Legislative reforms and stronger inter-agency coordination remain key focus areas moving forward.
- Amidst a crackdown on illegal foreign workers in POGOs, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported over 100 individuals linked to criminal syndicates, cybercrime, and human trafficking.
- The Philippine government is considering stricter regulations on iGaming, with a proposed new tax aimed at funding problem gambling services.
- The government's campaign includes a comprehensive anti-illegal gambling act that consolidates penalties and empowers digital enforcement for illegal platforms.
- Authorities face difficulties in enforcing regulations due to jurisdictional complexities, technological evasion tactics, and allegations of corruption within POGO regulation.
- In an effort to combat this, multi-agency task forces including immigration, police, and anti-trafficking councils are working together to enforce laws and regulations.
- PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) is implementing AI monitoring for illegitimate sites and removing gambling billboards to reduce illegal gambling promotion.
- The focus on eSabong (online cockfighting) has yet to reveal detailed enforcement strategies, although stricter laws and public awareness campaigns are anticipated.
- The Philippine National Police (PNP) plays a role in these enforcement teams, facing challenges in keeping up with technological advancements and working within current legislative frameworks undergoing revisions. Despite ongoing issues and future challenges, the Philippine government is committed to eradicating illegal gambling activities through stricter regulations, inter-agency cooperation, and advanced monitoring technologies.
