"Spinach" Withdraws from Philippines, 23,000 People Will Be Unemployed! Because China is still verifying the identities of 372 Chinese, the expulsion did not proceed smoothly!

According to Philippine media reports, on October 10, Philippine gaming service providers and the POGO Association (ASPAP) said that if Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) were banned from entering the country, about 23000 Filipinos would lose their jobs.

It is reported that POGO employs more Filipinos than foreigners.

"More than 23000 Filipinos will lose decent and well-paid jobs if the government shuts down legitimate Internet bookmakers and their service providers. The stakes here are not just their means of livelihood, but their support for their families."

ASPAP's membership includes 16 PAGCOR licensed POGO and 68 service providers.

Philippine POGO worker Nelia Leonardo (Nelia Leonardo) said that the Mandarin she learned when she was a nanny in Taiwan made her a translator for POGO.

"My salary is higher now, in addition to hazard pay, free accommodation, free food and transportation, up to P35000."

Another Filipino offshore betting worker, Nestor Abdullah, said he would prefer to work as a shuttle driver for offshore betting workers rather than working abroad. Abdullah said he was worried about his family, especially now that there have been calls to suspend the operation of online gambling companies.

"For those of us who have no education, there is no other way than to go to other countries. You cannot enter a company in the Philippines because you have no education and no one will hire you. If we go to another country, our family will be left behind."

ASPAP said they were ready to cooperate with authorities to stop illegal POGO and criminal activities.

"These evil operators have been or have been the source or the cause of a large number of recent criminal activities that have given the industry a bad name. ASPAP is worried because the impact has really affected the lives of many Filipino employees." The Justice Department said they would coordinate with ASPAP.

"We like to coordinate with them because I believe they will get more information. If they really want to ban POGO, the president must set the direction and Congress must pass legislation, "said Assistant Secretary Miko Cravano, a spokesman for the Department of Justice.

"But as of now, the Ministry of Justice is here to crack down on illegal online gambling, including those without licenses and criminals," he added.

The Philippine government last month announced plans to expel at least 2000 offshore bookmakers in October to coincide with a crackdown on undocumented foreign workers in the country.

Justice Department estimates indicate that there are still about 40000 offshore gaming workers in the country, although the operating licenses of 175 offshore gaming companies have been terminated.

The Philippine Justice Department said earlier that 372 detained Chinese citizens would be deported.

However, their deportations did not go smoothly last week as the Chinese government was still verifying their identities.