Philippines Officially Bans Offshore Gaming with the Anti-POGO Act
The Philippines has enacted a sweeping ban on all offshore gaming operations under the newly signed Anti-POGO Act of 2025. The law permanently shuts down the country’s Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) sector, following years of controversy over links to organised crime and financial misconduct.
A Final End to POGOs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved Republic Act 12312 on 23 October, declaring offshore gaming “unlawful” under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The measure cancels all existing licenses, work permits, and visas related to POGOs, while prohibiting any future issuance or renewal. Law enforcement agencies are now authorised to pursue criminal and financial cases tied to the sector.
Violations of the new law carry strict penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines that increase with repeat offences. At the same time, the Department of Labour and Employment has been tasked with supporting displaced Filipino workers through reemployment and retraining initiatives to ease the social and economic fallout of the ban.
The prohibition formalises an executive directive issued in November 2024, when President Marcos ordered the closure of all offshore gaming firms, saying the industry had caused “greater harm than good.” That decision followed growing reports of cybercrime, fraud, and exploitation involving both Filipino and foreign nationals.
- See also: Online Casinos in Philippines
From Rapid Expansion to Permanent Closure
The POGO sector had expanded rapidly during the previous administration, drawing foreign capital and creating employment but also attracting scrutiny for weak oversight and alleged criminal infiltration. A major tax hike in 2021 further destabilised the market, accelerating its decline.
Republic Act 12312 now makes the shutdown permanent, repealing earlier laws that allowed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to license and tax POGOs. The legislation marks a definitive policy shift away from foreign-facing online gaming toward a crime-prevention approach centred on regulatory integrity.
Officials say the move is crucial to restoring public order and rebuilding international confidence in the Philippines’ governance of its gambling industry. By codifying the ban into law, the country closes a contentious chapter and signals its intent to separate legitimate investment from activities that had long blurred the line between business and criminal enterprise.