Explained: the Philippines POGO crackdown and 244 arrests
The Philippines arrested 244 foreigners in its biggest crackdown on illegal offshore gaming this year. Here is the story behind the POGO busts.
POGO stands for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator. These firms run online casinos and betting sites targeting players outside the country, mainly in China. They grew rapidly after 2016.
The government banned them over crimes linked to the hubs. Prosecutors found online fraud, human trafficking and money laundering behind the gaming fronts. Many workers were trafficked into the country and held against their will.
Former president Marcos ordered a total ban in late 2024 through Executive Order 74. The Anti-POGO Act of 2025, or Republic Act 12312, made the ban a full law this year.
The October 2 raids in Zamboanga Sibugay were the biggest of 2026. Agents seized nearly 3,000 phones and dozens of computers. Those arrested face deportation and blacklisting, while investigators probe deeper criminal links.
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Khabar 24h Editorial Desk — our explainers are prepared by the Khabar 24h editorial team using AI-assisted research tools, and every piece is reviewed by a human editor before publishing. We do not claim original reporting: our work is turning complex topics into simple, accurate summaries. Spotted an error? Write to contact@khabar24h.com — our corrections policy aims for same-day review.
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