WITH so many controversies and issues hounding the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) industry in the country, it is only proper for the national government to accede to the recommendation of Senator Joel Villanueva for the suspension of Pogo while appropriate regulations are put in place.
This is necessary considering problems that have cropped up ever since the Pogo operations began in the country. Chief among these issues is the alleged money laundering threat posed by the said industry which, in statements made by Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Director Mel Georgie Racela during a recent Senate hearing is seen as increasing, as well as the commission of other fraudulent activities.
For his part, Senator Villanueva voiced his concern that unless and until concerned government agencies will fix the rules for the operation of these Pogo then no proper operation and regulation can be done on the industry.
It must be pointed out that the whole idea for the operation of the Pogo here in the country was hatched by the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) which as mandated by Presidential Decree 1869 issued in 1983 and subsequently amended in 2007 is to act as the sole government corporation conducting and establishing gaming pools and casinos in the country. It was later re-organized in 1986 by former President Corazon Aquino to help raise funds for the government.
According to Wikipedia, Pagcor is listed as the largest contributor of revenue to the government after the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs. In its website, Pagcor explained that it “conceptualized Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) to enable the Philippine government to capture a greater share of the growing, yet previously unregulated, online gaming pie.” It further explained that in 2016 it issued rules and regulations governing the operations of Pogo in the country.
Now whether these said rules and regulations also imposed safeguards against Pogo being utilized for money laundering schemes have yet to be determined. Pagcor then defined Pogo, “as an entity that offers and participates in offshore gaming services by providing games to players, taking bets, and paying the winning players. The gaming activity refers to online games of chance through the internet, using a network and software, exclusively for offshore-authorized players who have registered and established an online gaming account with the Pagcor-licensed Pogo.”
So in short Pagcor, which is a government-owned and controlled corporation, has the authority to issue a license for a Pogo to operate in the country.
However, due to the numerous problems that have arisen especially those that allegedly involve graft and corruption then it is only reasonable for the government to suspend in the meantime Pogo and the appropriate investigation conducted to determine whether this type of gambling industry should be allowed to continue operating in the country.