The current state of gambling in the Philippines – in all its guises – continues to be problematic, according to various interested parties in government and the private sector. In the midst of an ongoing row with China over Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the island nation also has the matter of industry compliance to … Read more
Despite ongoing disagreements with Beijing and a local enforcement initiative against tax-dodging Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the Philippines seem to be moving full speed ahead in embracing the burgeoning online gambling industry. From December 3-4, Manila will be hosting the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia. The scheduled venue for the convention is the Manila … Read more
The Philippines’ ongoing fight to collect taxes from delinquent online gambling operators continues apace. Last week, the Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corporation – the country’s second-largest Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator, or POGO – was shut down for tax dodging. Arnel Gubarra, the Deputy Commissioner of the Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), laid out … Read more
Lately, there has been significant interest on the part of Philippine authorities to go after tax dodgers in the country’s online gambling industry. Despite the government rejecting China’s pleas to end its Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) industry, President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has followed through on a promise to better police POGOs throughout the country. … Read more
In many ways, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is the same kind of political outsider and populist stalwart as his more famous American analog half a world away. And while that might occasionally lead to a controversial admission or the occasional paring back of the window dressing of governance, it has also made him fervently beloved … Read more
By now, it’s no secret that China isn’t a fan of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, or POGOs. Indeed, China president Xi Jinping recently met with Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte in an effort to get the latter’s administration to ban offshore gaming altogether. The communist leader claimed that POGOs were preying on Chinese nationals and contributing … Read more
Two weeks ago, China formally requested that the Philippine government put an end to the country’s online gambling industry. However, without tying the request to meaningful economic incentives of any kind, Beijing’s offer wasn’t exactly one that Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte couldn’t refuse. So he refused it. On Wednesday, Duterte explained to the media – … Read more
In the Philippines, online casinos are legally authorized, but their services are targeted almost exclusively at the offshore Chinese market. Now, China is asking the Philippine government to put a stop to the profitable industry. Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, or POGOs, were launched in 2016 under the umbrella of PAGCOR, the Philippine Amusement and … Read more