Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has officially signed the Executive Order banning the nation’s offshore gaming industry, widely known as POGO.
Citing risks posed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 74 imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.
In issuing the EO 74, President Marcos said “the State has the paramount duty to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold the rule of law, protect the safety of its citizens, and ensure the integrity of the social fabric of the nation.”
Titled “Immediate Ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming, Internet Gaming, and Other Offshore Gaming Operations in the Philippines”, Executive Order No. 74 was signed by President Marcos on 5 November and published in the Official Gazette Friday – confirming the ban first announced by him during a State of the Nation Address in July.
The Executive Order clarifies that applications for new licenses, permits or authorizations under the nation’s POGO and Internet Gaming Licensee (IGL) schemes will no longer be allowed; that all existing licenses, permits or authorizations will no longer be renewed or extended; and that all existing offshore gaming operations and their auxiliary services must completely cease operations on or before 31 December 2024.
