Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has refuted the bizarre claims of a local Senator that licensed casinos and integrated resorts may start illegally offering offshore operations, adding that there is no need to pass a law prohibiting the practice.
Speaking to reporters this week after issuing an Executive Order banning offshore gaming operations, or POGOs, last Friday, the President insisted that the order itself is sufficient in eradicating the POGO industry.
The issue was raised in response to comments from Senator Risa Hontiveros, who suggested that the order did not cover the online gaming operations of licensed casinos and IRs, nor those of PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino venues, and could therefore be exploited.
In response Marcos reiterated that no casinos are permitted to operate offshore gaming and so passing a new law on the matter was unnecessary.
“There is just no way because it’s the nature of the operation that we are banning. It’s not because it’s under PAGCOR or not. So long as it’s POGO or has the similar license, it’s banned,” he said.
As reported by IAG, The President’s 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.
It also creates two technical working groups comprised of representatives of various government departments and agencies.
All POGO and related operations are now required to be wound down completely by 31 December 2024.
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