PAGCOR to start POGO shutdown in October

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced that the physical winding down of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will commence in October.

An Executive Order (EO) detailing the winding down of POGO operations is expected to be released within September.

This move aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive from his State of the Nation Address to ban all POGO operations by the end of the year.

Some POGO entities are already initiating their closure processes and have formally requested permit cancellations from PAGCOR.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will cancel the working visas of foreign POGO workers effective October 16, after giving them until October 15 to voluntarily downgrade to tourist visas.

POGO operations are scheduled to cease entirely by December 31, with only essential departments like accounting and logistics potentially remaining until January 1.