Philippine authorities have arrested 150 foreigners operating illegal online casinos and various other scams in Cebu.
The Cebu Daily News is reporting that the Philippine National Police (PNP), alongside other government agencies, have conducted a raid in Cebu that led to the arrest of 83 Chinese, 70 Indonesians, and various other foreigners. The workers were caught in makeshift workstations at a resort in the central island of Cebu. The Indonesian Embassy initiated the raid after reports of people being scammed.
While conducting the raid, authorities discovered at least three scam farms. Winston Casio, spokesman of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, stated, “We’ve seen enough evidence to be able to file a cybercrime offense for facilitating cybercrime-related gambling and cybercrime-related qualified trafficking.”
The arrested foreigners will be detained before deportation to set an example of what scammers are risking breaking the new Philippine gambling laws.
President Marcos formally banned all offshore gambling operations in July 2024. The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) program has earned a bad reputation over the years. While the industry was essential to many people’s livelihood during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was used as a ruse for many illegal operators.
Are Online Casinos Still Legal In The Philippines?
Yes, Philippine residents and visitors can access domestic and licensed online casinos operating from outside the country. PH-licensed online casinos can only operate in the Philippines and accept PH players. Other legal Philippine online casinos operate outside the country and can accept PH and other international players.
Can I Trust An Online Casino?
Yes, online casinos with trusted gaming regulator licenses uphold strict regulations to ensure the game odds are fair. Regulators often test games of chance, and compliance records are issued if they pass the inspection.
Online casino regulators also test security protocols to guarantee they are working properly. For players who choose to fund their accounts with banking cards, a TSL or SSL encryption method must be in place. The encryption method used by online casinos gives players quick access to their accounts without worrying that their sensitive banking information can be stolen.
How To Avoid Scam Casinos
If you have doubts that a casino site you are playing is not legit, the best thing to do is close the account. Legit sites, like the online casinos we review, have excellent player ratings, have been operating for numerous years, and are licensed by a trusted gaming commission. Not all online casinos are the same, and players must do their due diligence to vet a site before sending any money online.