Facing a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and runaway illegal online gaming, the Philippines have created the Philippines Inland Gaming Operator (PIGO) scheme. The system went from a stop-gap measure to make up for declining revenues to a significant source of revenue growth.
Under PIGO, land-based gaming venues could expand by offering remote gaming to the local population, according to Asia Gaming Brief.
After the initial launch in late 2020, online services were only permitted to registered VIP players. Even then, deposits and withdrawals were only made in person. Curfews and lockdowns made the program even slower.
By limiting the access to VIP players, it did little to eliminate illegal gaming or build up government coffers. So, the regulator expanded the program to allow any registered player to partake.
One of the biggest success stories in this PIGO scheme so far has been e-sabong or online cockfighting, a national pastime.
In the first four months, the regulator collected P1 billion (US$19.9 million) in fees from licensed e-sabong operators. Of course, the publicity of the success brought negative press. At the moment, it doesn’t look like the sport will be suspended anytime soon, due to the amount of revenue it’s bringing in for the government.
