Part V: Regional & Cultural · Asia-Pacific Regional Terms

3.2 POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator)

Philippines — Regulatory/Gaming

A Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator was an online gaming company licensed by PAGCOR to provide casino and sports betting services to players located outside the Philippines. POGOs were prohibited from accepting wagers from Filipino citizens or residents of countries where online gambling is illegal. The industry peaked around 2019 with dozens of licensed operators and thousands of employees, primarily serving the Chinese market. In July 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all POGO operations, citing their association with money laundering, human trafficking, kidnapping, and other criminal activities. The ban marked the end of the POGO era.

In practice

At their peak, POGOs were estimated to contribute billions of pesos in tax revenue. However, criminal activities associated with the industry — including high-profile kidnapping and murder cases — led to growing public pressure for the ban.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.