Philippines Bans Offshore Casinos to Tackle Cybercrime and Scam Operations

In a bold move to curb various forms of criminal activity, the Philippines announced the closure of its Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) by the end of the year.

The announcement came from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who highlighted the decision's pivotal role in combating illegal employment, tax evasion, and various cybercrimes, such as money laundering, financial scams, and human trafficking.

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators Banned by the End of the Year

“Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder,” Marcos said in his 3rd State of the Nation Address on Monday.

For years, POGOs have been a controversial fixture in the Philippines, attracting scrutiny from local authorities and international bodies alike. China has been particularly vocal about its opposition to POGOs, as these operations often target Chinese citizens, fostering an environment ripe for illicit activities.

How POGOs Facilitate Cybercrime and Online Fraud

The link between online gambling and cybercrime is well documented, as these platforms usually operate in regulatory gray areas and become havens for various cybercrimes. Threat actors weaponize the anonymity and financial transactions inherent in online gambling to orchestrate ruthless scam campaigns and launder money.

Online gambling operations, specifically those with offshore headquarters, have long been shelters for cybercriminal activities; the crackdown on such entities is expected to disrupt these malicious networks.

The Potential Shift of POGO Activities

While the immediate focus of the operation is to disrupt gambling operations, in the long run, this decision could reduce avenues for cybercrime, enhancing the nation’s overall security posture.

However, although the closure of POGOs marks a significant policy shift, the nature of their operations could allow them to continue underground, where they’re even harder to monitor and regulate.

Protective Measures Against Scams

Safeguarding against scams can be daunting without properly understanding the nature of these malicious operations. However, specialized tools like Scamiocan help you quickly and efficiently detect scams by verifying the legitimacy of emails, text messages, online links, images, and QR codes.

Scamio can even help you detect scams from a given scenario; describe the situation and Scamio will provide you with an instant assessment. Scamio is free and available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and your web browser. You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia and the UK.