Former Mayor (Bamban, Tarlac Province) Alice Guo was recently charged with 62 counts of money laundering in connection to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) site that she partially owned. Guo was charged alongside 31 others for her part in the operation.
Last March, Philippine authorities raided the facility and discovered evidence of an online call center running romance and investment scams. Workers told authorities they were held against their will and threatened with torture.
Guo was later discovered to be a Chinese national, Guo Hua Ping, and found to have falsified birth records to run for mayor of the rural community. Once the raid was complete and charges were brought upon her, she was removed from office.
Guo allegedly went into hiding after President Marcos Jr. formally banned the POGO licensing system from the country. She was tracked to Malaysia and Singapore before finally being apprehended in Indonesia. Upon arrest, she was returned to the Philippines and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Illegal POGOs Still in Operation
Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a raid in Parañaque City where 400 foreign workers were arrested. Despite the offshore gambling industry coming to a complete halt in December of 2024, some illegal operations are still conducting business from the Philippines.
Guo Hua Ping and her co-defendants are also facing charges of human trafficking since many of the workers claimed to be held against their will.
Legal Casinos In The Philippines
While POGOs are banned, online casinos are still legal in the Philippines despite the confusing rhetoric. Legal online casinos consist of domestic sites licensed to operate online and offshore casinos operating outside the country.
Domestic online casinos in the Philippines are licensed and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and offshore casinos must be licensed by a trusted gaming regulator to be considered safe and legal.
While there are many options for iGaming, our online casino reviews are an excellent resource for anyone looking to wager online. Our reviews highlight each site’s best features and discuss the bonus and banking options currently available to Philippine players. However, if you gamble online, ensure the site has an excellent player reputation, as rogue operators want to make an easy buck.