Philippines senator urges joint action to block illegal gambling websites
The Philippines is facing a renewed wave of illegal offshore gaming activities, exposing ongoing vulnerabilities associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
In a statement made on 1 July 2025, Senator Gatchalian (as depicted in featured image) emphasised that, despite recent efforts to combat unlicensed offshore gaming platforms, the battle is far from over.
He cautioned that many illegal sites still operate, taking advantage of loopholes and posing risks related to fraud, criminal activity, and national security.PAGCORs public warning against illegal offshore gaming websites is a clear sign that our campaign must intensify against POGO-like entities, the senator said.
Joint efforts urged to tackle POGOs
He urged government agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to work closely with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to block access to such sites.
The senator justified the calls for a total ban on POGOs, citing their involvement in criminal schemes and security threats. PAGCOR has flagged a list of unlicensed platforms that are misusing its official logo and issuing fake license certificates to appear legitimate. These include efesbet바카라514.com, og7777.org, mpo500.com, and others, alongside a UK-based fraudulent site, cazeus2.com.
Although PAGCOR reiterated that it did not issue licences to offshore operators serving users outside the Philippines, it urged the public to verify gaming sites through official channels.
Ex-POGO workers turn to online scams
Now, these calls to block and act against illegal websites come week after DICT Secretary Henry Aguda acknowledged a concerning trend: many online scammers are Filipinos who developed their skills while working for POGOs. POGOs disappeared, so they shifted to other ventures such as financial crime, hacking, and online scams, he noted, though hard data on the trend is still emerging.
To combat rising cybercrime, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bolster the country’s cyber defense. Over 230,000 police officers are being trained in digital crime detection, a vital initiative highlighted by a recent operation in Pasay City that dismantled a scam hub involved in romance and investment fraud.
Several high-profile cases show the problems scale. With POGOs closed, many former operators appear to have transferred their expertise to illicit online activities. Authorities hope that ongoing training, improved coordination between authorities, and public vigilance will help curb illegal offshore gaming and associated cybercrime, thereby restoring trust in the Philippines digital landscape.
