After POGO Ban, Escudero Wants Review of PIGO

MANILA—Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero has called for a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs) licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to assess their impact on Filipino society.

Escudero expressed concern that PIGOs, which offer online gaming services primarily to local clients, may pose similar risks to those previously identified with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which were patronized mainly by foreign nationals.

“With POGOs, it was foreigners who gambled, whose families were affected, who became addicted, and who lost money due to gambling. We banned POGOs, but we allowed PIGOs—Philippine Inland Gaming Operations—where it is Filipinos who gamble, not foreigners,” Escudero said during a press conference on Friday.

He raised concerns that former POGO operators might be operating under the guise of PIGOs, thereby continuing similar activities that could harm Filipino citizens.

Escudero urged PAGCOR to conduct an in-depth and transparent review of PIGO operations to determine their benefits and potential detriments to the country.

“Can we obtain data from PAGCOR? Can we get data from relevant government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)? How much are we really earning from this? And like the questions we asked regarding POGOs, is it worth it?” he added.

Escudero stressed that if PIGOs are found to have a detrimental impact on Filipinos, particularly those with limited disposable income, the government should consider imposing a ban similar to that on POGOs.

He recalled President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s executive order in 2022 that suspended all e-sabong operations nationwide due to their negative effects on ordinary Filipinos.

In July 2024, during his State of the Nation Address, President Marcos announced a ban on all POGO operations in the country, effective December 2024. This led to the closure of major POGO hubs, including the largest facility at Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite, which ceased operations ahead of the year-end deadline.

Kawit’s POGO operation shutdown was part of the government’s crackdown on POGOs amid fears over crime, money laundering, and other illegal activities associated with the industry.

The government’s decisive action against POGOs underscores the need for a thorough evaluation of PIGO operations to ensure that similar issues do not arise, thereby safeguarding the welfare of Filipino citizens.