Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR will issue show-cause orders and fines of US$50,000 to any POGO licensees or service providers that allow other companies to operate under their license, according to local media outlet Rappler.
The move, announced by PAGCOR’s Assistant Vice President for Compliance, Jessa Fernandez, and the CEO of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Agnes Devanadera, on Friday, is in response to a POGO service provider operating out of Sun Valley Clark having its license revoked last month.
As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the license of CGC Technologies was first cancelled and then revoked after an inter-agency investigation found the gaming hub was party to a range of criminal activities including “cryptocurrency investment scams, serious illegal detention and human trafficking activities”. Oriental Game, the licensed POGO under which CGC was operating, was also fined for “failure to ensure the legitimate conduct of CGC’s business.”
At a press conference on Friday to announce the creation of the Clark Security Advisory Council, and in response to questions from Rappler reporters, Fernandez acknowledged there was a “significant flaw” in the system which allowed the illegal POGO hub to operate and vowed to stop POGO licensed being used “by companies within companies.”
Devanadera added that the CDC has approved the use of show-cause notices and fines to crack down on such situations.
