‘Licensed POGOs pose no security threat’

Alien hacking and scam syndicates are the real threat to national security, not legitimate and licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

Pagcor issued the statement after the lawyers of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo blamed the state-run firm for allowing POGO in her town.  

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said in a statement that legitimate and licensed Pogos, also called internet gaming licensees (IGLs), generate funds for the national government. 

Pogos, or IGLs, have contributed about P5 billion to Pagcor’s gross revenues in 2023, according to Tengco. 

“To us, the real threat are the alien hacking and scam syndicates who operate underground, and they are the ones that our law enforcement agencies are trying to locate and dismantle,” Tengco said.

“We are cooperating fully with the authorities in this regard,” he added.

Tengco said licensed POGOs should not be “blamed and demonized” as Pagcor closely monitors its licensees, adding that POGOs pay taxes and help provide legitimate jobs and livelihood. 

Tengco added that Pagcor has embedded monitoring teams in all physical locations of its licensed gaming operators, including land-based casinos, to guarantee that its licensees comply with their terms.

Fines and penalties are imposed on those who violate the provisions of their licenses. Licenses are revoked and bonds are forfeited to those with the most serious offenses, Tengco added.

“We do not need to outlaw Pogos; what we need to do is intensify anti-crime operations against suspected alien hackers, against scammers and cyber-criminals who are usually hiding in highly secured buildings and compounds,” he said.

He appealed to the public to report suspicious alien activities in their communities, adding that such foreign criminal activities are usually armed and dangerous. 

“These criminal syndicates are not engaged in offshore gaming at all and even if they are, they are doing it illegally. So they are the real threat and we must go after them with everything that we have,” Tengco said. 

Earlier, the Pagcor chief…