An executive order banning all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) is expected to be released within two weeks, according to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz. Cruz mentioned the timeline during a Senate Committee on Ways and Means hearing on Thursday.
Cruz stated that the draft is nearly complete, with discussions focusing on the operation’s details and dissemination. When asked if special class Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies and e-gaming are included in the ban, Cruz said a technical working group would clarify which entities are covered.
Special class BPOs, as explained by PAGCOR Chair Alejandro Tengco, handle the backroom operations of legitimate international gaming companies but do not engage in betting activities.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initially called for the complete ban on POGOs during his State of the Nation Address in July.