Marcos Jr.: POGOs not worth it if social cost too high

Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt=' The Phil-Asian Gaming Expo featured offshore games targeting bettors outside the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center on July 12, 2019. Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News/file' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/08/23/20190712-pogo-expo-jf-134856.jpg' ><figcaption>The Phil-Asian Gaming Expo featured offshore games targeting bettors outside the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center on July 12, 2019.<em> Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>ZURICH, Switzerland — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has said his administration is looking into whether allowing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) is a good idea for the country, amid reports of killings and kidnappings linked to their operations.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/22/marcos-closely-monitoring-pogos-palace'>Marcos 'closely monitoring' POGO issue, says Palace</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/03/22/21-illegal-chinese-pogo-workers-deported-doj'>Another 21 illegal Chinese POGO workers deported: DOJ</a></li></ul><p> <br/>In a briefing with Palace reporters shortly before flying back to the Philippines, Marcos Jr. said it may not be worth allowing POGOs to continue in Philippines if their operations come at a social cost.<br/> <br/>“It’s not a huge part of our economy. And if it’s adjudged that there is a social cost, it might not be worth it. The cost might not be worth what they’re paying in taxes anymore,” the President said.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe allow='autoplay; fullscreen' frameborder='0' height='100%' id='ivsplayer01' scrolling='no' src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=2428829' width='100%'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><p><br/><br/> <br/>Marcos Jr., however, clarified that those involved in crimes are usually from illegal POGO operations, which authorities have addressed.<br/> <br/>“The problem are the illegal ones, not the legal ones. The legal ones pay their bills, pay their taxes and you know those --- ‘yung mga video na nakikita natin nagpapatayan na --- ‘yun mga illegal ‘yun. Kaya ang dami na natin pinaalis na illegal. Nagsara kami ng mga illegal POGO at dineport (deport) lahat nung mga kanilang tao.”<br/> <br/>The Chinese government earlier issued a crackdown on the operations of POGOs, as gambling is illegal in China.<br/> <br/>“If China wants us to do that, we’ll see what the arrangement could be ‘di ba,” the President said.</p><p>Some POGOs have been accused of evading taxes and driving up property rates while not providing job opportunities. </p><p>About 34 POGOs are licensed to operate and around 130 support services are registered, according to the Philippine gaming regulator.</p><p>Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in September last year he wanted online gaming operators banned. He said revenues from POGOs peaked in 2020 at P7.2 billion, but fell sharply in 2021 to P3.9 billion. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/12/22/ph-has-1-pct-conviction-rate-for-pogo-related-crimes-gatchalian'>PH has 1 pct conviction rate for POGO-related crimes: Gatchalian</a></li></ul><p>Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in October last year said legitimate POGOs have an estimated tax <a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/18/22/pogos-underdeclared-taxes-by-p19-billion-gatchalian'>leakage of P1.9 billion</a>, citing the discrepancy of gross gaming revenue reported by the BIR and PAGCOR from January to August 2022. </p>

<figure class='op-interactive'><iframe allow='autoplay; fullscreen' frameborder='0' height='100%' id='ivsplayer01' scrolling='no' src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=2428829' width='100%'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><p><br><br> <br>Marcos Jr., however, clarified that those involved in crimes are usually from illegal POGO operations, which authorities have addressed.<br> <br>“The problem are the illegal ones, not the legal ones. The legal ones pay their bills, pay their taxes and you know those --- ‘yung mga video na nakikita natin nagpapatayan na --- ‘yun mga illegal ‘yun. Kaya ang dami na natin pinaalis na illegal. Nagsara kami ng mga illegal POGO at dineport (deport) lahat nung mga kanilang tao.”<br> <br>The Chinese government earlier issued a crackdown on the operations of POGOs, as gambling is illegal in China.<br> <br>“If China wants us to do that, we’ll see what the arrangement could be ‘di ba,” the President said.</p><p>Some POGOs have been accused of evading taxes and driving up property rates while not providing job opportunities. </p><p>About 34 POGOs are licensed to operate and around 130 support services are registered, according to the Philippine gaming regulator.</p><p>Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in September last year he wanted online gaming operators banned. He said revenues from POGOs peaked in 2020 at P7.2 billion, but fell sharply in 2021 to P3.9 billion. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/12/22/ph-has-1-pct-conviction-rate-for-pogo-related-crimes-gatchalian'>PH has 1 pct conviction rate for POGO-related crimes: Gatchalian</a></li></ul><p>Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in October last year said legitimate POGOs have an estimated tax <a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/18/22/pogos-underdeclared-taxes-by-p19-billion-gatchalian'>leakage of P1.9 billion</a>, citing the discrepancy of gross gaming revenue reported by the BIR and PAGCOR from January to August 2022. </p>

<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/22/marcos-closely-monitoring-pogos-palace'>Marcos 'closely monitoring' POGO issue, says Palace</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/03/22/21-illegal-chinese-pogo-workers-deported-doj'>Another 21 illegal Chinese POGO workers deported: DOJ</a></li></ul><p> <br>In a briefing with Palace reporters shortly before flying back to the Philippines, Marcos Jr. said it may not be worth allowing POGOs to continue in Philippines if their operations come at a social cost.<br> <br>“It’s not a huge part of our economy. And if it’s adjudged that there is a social cost, it might not be worth it. The cost might not be worth what they’re paying in taxes anymore,” the President said.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt=' The Phil-Asian Gaming Expo featured offshore games targeting bettors outside the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center on July 12, 2019. Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News/file' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/08/23/20190712-pogo-expo-jf-134856.jpg' ><figcaption>The Phil-Asian Gaming Expo featured offshore games targeting bettors outside the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center on July 12, 2019.<em> Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>ZURICH, Switzerland — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has said his administration is looking into whether allowing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) is a good idea for the country, amid reports of killings and kidnappings linked to their operations.</p>

Marcos Jr. said it may not be worth allowing POGOs to continue in Philippines if their operations come at a social cost.

Marcos Jr.: POGOs not worth it if social cost too high | ABS-CBN News

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Marcos Jr.: POGOs not worth it if social cost too high

Marcos Jr.: POGOs not worth it if social cost too high