Ex-Philippines Gov’t Official Charged with Human Trafficking in POGO Case
The Philippines Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has charged attorney and former cabinet official Harry Roque with qualified human trafficking in connection to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga.
Intermittently between 2017 and 2021, Roque served as attorney and official spokesman for former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. At the same time, he was legal counsel for the POGO, Lucky 99 South, and represented incorporator Cassandra Li Ong in her dealings with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PACGOR).
In June, police raided the facility and found evidence of online scamming, human trafficking and torture. They also found documents suggesting Roque’s deeper involvement in the operation, reported the Philippine Tribune. “His footprint is everywhere,” said PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio.
Deputy Prosecutor Darwin Cañete said Roque “benefited from the fruits of the trafficking in persons” and “intentionally withheld such information” from authorities. Roque has refused to attend Senate hearings on POGO crimes. On Facebook, he claims he is the victim of “a trumped-up charge.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned the POGO industry in July.
Star’s Q1 Report Shows EBITDA Loss of AU$18 Million
Star Entertainment has reported an AU$18 million (US$11.8 million) EBITDA loss for the previous quarter as it continues to manage regulatory turmoil and its newly opened Star Brisbane joint venture.
In an ASX filing Oct. 29, Star reported revenue of AU$351 million. This was an 18 percent decline year-on-year and an 11 percent decline from last quarter. The company attributed the drop to “a challenging operating environment and the continued implementation of mandatory carded play and cash limits.”
Star Sydney’s revenue of AU$186 million in Q1 was down 16 percent from last year and 11 percent from last quarter. But its EBITDA loss of AU$22 million was a heavy drag on the company’s overall performance.
Perhaps the best aspect of the Q1 report came from Star Gold Coast. That property posted AU$108 million in revenue, a 6 percent increase from last quarter. Still, its AU$7 million in EBITDA was a 70 percent decrease from last year. The multibillion-dollar Star Brisbane development generated AU$45 million in revenue in 33 days after opening 29 August. Star’s share of that was AU$4 million. The development is a joint venture with Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium. The two partners control 25 percent each with Star controlling the remaining 50 percent.
Report: India Online Gaming at Risk for Money Laundering
In a new report, “Combating Money Laundering in the Online Gaming Ecosystem,” the Digital India Foundation (DIF) warned against fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing in the online gaming industry.
Legitimate real-money gaming, with an estimated daily player base of 90 million, grew 28 percent from 2020 to 2023, and is on pace to generate $7.5 billion by 2029, the report noted. But “vulnerabilities within India’s online gaming ecosystem … pose significant challenges to financial integrity.”
DIF co-founder Arvind Gupta expressed special concern about the explosion of illegal online betting. “Despite ongoing regulatory efforts,” he said, “many platforms circumvent restrictions” using VPNs, mirror sites and other workarounds. They trick unwitting players with “illegal branding and disproportionate promises.” The use of cryptocurrencies or cash for payments facilitates money-laundering, as virtual assets can make ill-gotten gains seem legitimate.
“These rogue players siphon money out of our economy, leaving a trail of financial instability, thereby fueling criminal activity,” the report said, as reported by the India Press Trust.
Philippines to Exit Money Laundering Gray List
The Philippines remain on a list of jurisdictions at elevated risk for financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorism financing. But according to the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which compiles the list three times a year, the country could be delisted in February 2025.
FATF confirmed that government departments and other stakeholders have “substantially completed” an 18-point action plan to restore the Philippines’ financial integrity. The country also has “the necessary political commitment” to maintain the improvements, the watchdog agency said.
FATF applauded meaningful reforms, including:
- Enhanced anti-money laundering / counter-terrorism-financing (AML/CFT) controls
- Greater use of financial intelligence to detect criminal transactions
- More investigations and prosecutions of cases
Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered all government agencies to establish anti-money laundering strategies.
Lucas Bersamin, Philippines executive secretary, hailed the imminent delisting “as a testament to the hard work and coordination across government agencies. It reflects our strong commitment to meeting the FATF’s stringent standards and ensuring the long-term protection of our financial system.”
MGM Cotai Residency to Mark 25 Years of Macau Handover
On Dec. 15, a new residency will take the stage at MGM Cotai in Macau. The show, entitled Macau 2049, is part of the operator’s commitment to introduce more non-gaming and culturally relevant features in the city.
In comments to U.S. entertainment weekly Variety, an MGM spokesperson said the show will “propel the city’s cultural and entertainment sectors towards new heights, further foster the development of Macau as a ‘City of Performing Arts’ … and promote Chinese culture to the world.”
Pansy Ho, chairwoman and executive director of MGM China Holdings Ltd, called the production a “milestone in cultural tourism … as the city enters a new era of ‘1+4’ diversified development.” The “1+4” plan aims to turn Macau into a center of tourism while also fostering the growth of four new industries. Big health, finance and technology top the list. A final category includes culture, sports and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).
Japan Horses Lead the Pack at Breeder’s Cup
Horses from all over the world are in the U.S. for the Breeder’s Cup race. But Japan brought the largest contingent by far, shipping 19 horses from overseas for one of racing’s biggest weekends.
The Japanese may legally gamble on horse racing, a national lottery and some motorsports.
Fans will be rooting for Kentucky Derby contender Forever Young to win the $7 million Longines Classic over the weekend. In a seven-race career, the three-year-old from Hokkaido has lost only once, finishing third at Churchill Downs in May. As the week ended, hopes were high that he would win his first U.S. victory at Del Mar. Oddsmakers had the colt at 6-1 to win.
