POGO Philippine employee group: "A total ban on online gambling is anti-poor"

On October 26, local time, Pinoy sa POGO, a Filipino employee organization of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), criticized the calls of large business groups to completely eliminate or ban the online gaming industry, and asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.) not to completely ban the industry.

A few days ago, the Economic Freedom Foundation (FEF), the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Philippine Management Association (MAP) issued a joint statement in support of the phasing out of the online gaming industry, citing the "social and reputation" costs it brings to the country.

The statement read: "We fully support the Philippine Ministry of Finance (DOF) in promoting the phasing out of all online gaming operations and urge our legislators and administration to take all necessary actions and implement it in an orderly manner. The social and reputational costs of government backing or allowing unpopular operations on a global scale far outweigh any economic benefits. Conflicting mandates and the lure of corruption have prevented relevant government agencies from effectively regulating online gaming companies."

However, Pinoy sa POGO said the remarks were "misleading and discriminatory statements" that they ignored significant economic contributions such as legitimate web bookmakers and service providers paying the government proper taxes and licensing fees.

The group also urged President Marcos to carefully consider the consequences of a total ban on the online gaming industry.

The organization claimed that the organization that advocates a total ban on online gambling is "elitist and anti-poverty". One of its members, Karen Santa Cruz, claimed that wealthy businessmen "have never experienced hunger or no money to send their children to school, so they don't care about us".

She added: "Working at POGO, we have received high salaries and good benefits. MR. President. We ask for your help not to let big business groups take away our jobs and ruin the future of our families, especially now that Christmas is coming."

She said: "In addition to illegal contractual work arrangements, many elite members of these business groups do not even pay decent wages and benefits to workers or domestic helpers. However, they want to deprive POGO employees of regular and high-paying jobs. If we lose our jobs, can they help us support our families?"

She further argues that massive job losses are the real cost of shutting down the Philippine offshore betting operator.

"When we are again forced to find work abroad, the most serious insult is to deprive us of our dignity and lead to separation of families," she said."

The organization also criticized business groups and some legislators for their "double standards" in handling the online gambling industry, saying that they are heartbroken for those mainland Chinese who gamble on gambling websites, but strangely, they are silent on the proliferation of local text messages and Internet gambling scams, which are also luring Filipinos, including young people, to gamble."