Marcos signs law banning POGOs

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos has signed a law banning Philippine offshore gaming operators, more than a year after he ordered a crackdown on the POGOs, which have been linked to cyberscams, money laundering, human trafficking and other illegal activities.

Republic Act 12312, enacted on Oct. 23, institutionalized a policy announced by Marcos during his State of the Nation Address last year. The newly enacted measure repealed a 2021 law taxing POGOs.

Also known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, the law prohibits the establishment, operation or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines; acceptance of any form of betting for offshore gaming operations, acting as POGO content provider or service provider, creation and operation of a POGO hub or site and the introduction, use or possession of POGO equipment or gaming paraphernalia.

It also bars the aiding, protecting or abetting the conduct of prohibited acts, including the registering of POGOs, providing spurious documents, allowing the use of houses, buildings, establishments, vehicles, computer related devices and digital platforms in support of their operations and helping in the exit and entry of persons without travel documents or possessing tampered or fake documents.

The law revokes the POGO licenses previously issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., special economic zone authorities, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Freeport authorities and other government agencies.

Any corporation which includes in its purpose any of the prohibited acts is directed to amend its articles of incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 days from effectivity of the law. If a company fails to do so, its certificate of registration would be deemed revoked.

The law also cancels the work permits and visas issued to persons engaged in offshore gaming operations or employed by POGOs, content providers and service providers.

All POGOs, content providers, service providers and local gaming agents whose licenses have been revoked shall continue to be liable for all taxes, duties, regulatory fees and other charges up to the last day of their operations. The tax bureau shall conduct an audit to determine any tax liability.

Any act, omission, series or combination of violations of the law shall constitute unlawful activity under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.

Prison terms

The penalties for violating the Anti-POGO Act are imprisonment ranging from six to eight years and a fine ranging from P300,000 to P15 million for first offense; imprisonment ranging from eight years and one day to 10 years and a fine ranging from P15 million to P30 million for second offense and imprisonment ranging from 10 years and one day to 12 years and a fine ranging from P30 million to P50 million for third offense.

If the offender is a public official, the maximum of the applicable penalty shall be imposed. He or she shall also be dismissed from the service and perpetually disqualified from holding government office.

POGO buildings, structures or facilities or equipment used in violation of the law as well as the proceeds of the illegal acts would be forfeited in favor of the government.

The labor department was tasked to come up with plans and programs for the transitioning of all workers affected by the POGO ban.

The law likewise forms an administrative oversight committee composed of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and of the departments of justice, information and communications technology and the interior and local government to ensure proper implementation of the law. The commission is expected to submit a report on the implementation of the Anti-POGO Act to the Office of the President and legislature not later than one year after its effectivity.

During his third SONA, Marcos ordered a halt to the operation of POGOs, citing the need to end their “grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws.”

He said the gaming entities have ventured into “illicit areas furthest from gaming” such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder.

Overjoyed, elated

Two of the enemies of POGOs in the Senate – Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian – welcomed the signing of RA 12312 by President Marcos.

“I am overjoyed about the Anti-POGO Act’s passage into law. At last, there will now be a rectification of the mistake of the previous administration of allowing POGOs into the country,” Hontiveros said.

“POGOs have harmed our country in more ways than we can imagine,” Hontiveros said, citing cases of children forced into prostitution for Chinese POGO workers as well as the activities of scam hubs controlled by now dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

Gatchalian said the law would ensure sustained government action against similar entities that continue to operate in the country despite being banned.

“I am elated by the enactment of this measure as the POGOs have brought nothing but a surge in criminalities that include kidnapping, human trafficking and prostitution, among others. This isn’t just an economic issue but a moral imperative,” Gatchalian said.

The senator said any revenue from POGOs was outweighed by the social costs of their presence in the country.

“We can achieve real progress if we prioritize the good of our countrymen as well as peace and order. This law will eliminate once and for all the scourge of POGOs,” he added.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also welcomed the signing of the law banning POGOs.

“We welcome the enactment of Republic Act No. 12312, or the ‘Anti-POGO Act of 2025,’ to institutionalize the total ban on offshore gaming operations in the country,” De Lima said in a statement.

“We have been a vocal critic of the existence of these POGOs – a Duterte administration-sponsored Chinese creeping invasion that catered to the interests of Chinese criminals and pro-China government officials,” she added.

De Lima also cited the social costs of POGO operations in the country. “But it was tolerated and protected by the previous administration,” she said.

“We must ensure that the government will be the one to evict the remaining POGO in the country, along with chameleon operating POGO under other disguise,” De Lima said.

“We must ensure the strict implementation of this law so that it cannot be circumvented by those with selfish interests, especially under future administrations,” she added.

For Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva, one of the principal authors of the law, the signing of the Anti-POGO Law is a “moral and social victory against a national menace.” -  Neil Jayson Servallos, Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano