President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially outlawed all offshore gaming operations, known as POGOs, in the Philippines after signing Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, on October 23.
The new law declares all forms of offshore gaming activities and their related services illegal in the country. It also cancels the work permits and visas of foreign and Filipino workers employed under POGOs, including those working for gaming content providers and accredited service firms.
Under the law, former operators and their affiliates remain accountable for any unpaid taxes, fees, and regulatory dues owed to the government until the last day of their operations.
“All POGOs, POGO gaming content providers, POGO-accredited service providers, and POGO local gaming agents whose licenses have been revoked under this Act shall continue to be liable for all taxes, duties, regulatory fees, and all other charges up to the last day of their operations,” the measure states.
Violations of the Anti-POGO Act are now considered “unlawful activities” under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. The law also criminalizes any act of recruiting or employing individuals for offshore gaming work in the Philippines.
To aid those affected by the ban, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will launch transition programs for displaced Filipino workers.
An Administrative Oversight Committee will oversee the law’s enforcement, chaired by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, with the Departments of Justice, Information and Communications Technology, and the Interior and Local Government as members.
The committee is tasked to ensure real-time data sharing among agencies and expedite investigations and prosecutions linked to illegal offshore gaming operations.
