The number of Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) has dropped from 63 to just 35, with only 26 of those currently operational, according to a recent statement by Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) executive Victor Padilla.
Padilla blamed Covid-19 lockdowns and the closure of international borders for the decline. But as reported by Asia Gaming Brief, even before the pandemic, the Philippines’ iGaming sector had been shrinking due to the rising costs of doing business and bureaucratic red tape.
As a result, some operators took their business to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, said PAGCOR Chairwoman Andrea Domingo.
Speaking at the ASEAN Gaming Summit, Padilla said PAGCOR is working to revive and stabilize the industry, in part by shutting down illegal iGaming shops and strengthening player protections. He also confirmed that e-sabong, or online cockfighting, operations remain suspended on order of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
First licensed to offer offshore gaming in 2016, Philippine-based POGOs reached a revenue high of PHP8 billion (US$143.3 million) in 2019.
