ALL illegal offshore gaming operations in the country are now banned under the new Anti-POGO Act of 2025.
Under Republic Act No. 12312, the creation, operation, or conduct of any offshore gaming in the jurisdiction of the Philippines is prohibited. This includes the existence of POGO hubs or sites, as well as any form of betting for offshore gaming operations.
Also considered illegal under the law is acting as POGO gaming content providers and POGO service providers.
Even owning and subsequent use of POGO gaming equipment and paraphernalia in the country is prohibited.
Acts that assist in the existence and operations of POGOs, including its concealment, are considered illegal. This includes registering companies used to conceal offshore gaming operations, providing any documentation and permits to support offshore gaming operations, allowing the use of real property and computer-assisted devices for the purposes of offshore gaming operations, and facilitating human trafficking for the purpose of employing personnel for the offshore gaming operations.
The law also permanently cancels the licenses of all individuals and companies involved in offshore gaming operations, previously issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and different government agencies.
At the same time, the power of PAGCOR and different government agencies to issue licenses and permits for offshore gaming operations is revoked.
Work permits, such as Alien Employment Permits, and visas of individuals involved in POGOs, previously issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Bureau of Immigration, and other agencies, are also cancelled permanently.
Meanwhile, the law states that DOLE should implement programs that will assist Filipino workers affected by the POGO ban.
The said agency is tasked to coordinate with the Technical Education and Skills Development Agency (TESDA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), to upskill and train affected Filipinos.
An Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC) will be created to ensure the proper implementation of the law. It will be led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), together with the DICT, Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Among its tasks is to maintain an information-sharing system among different concerned government agencies, to be used solely for the implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of the law; and provide quick investigation and prosecution of all individuals involved in the operation of POGOs, and monitor the progress of the ongoing cases.
The measure was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on October 23, 2025.