Closing POGO gaming centers across the Philippines? Is the Philippines willing to give up the fat meat "spinach?

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva (Villanueva) said he was puzzled by why Internet gambling companies whose licenses were revoked were still operating.

(Joel Villanueva)

"The reality is that this is most likely not an isolated case, which is exactly why we are pushing for a total ban on online bookmakers in the country," Villanueva said."

"With the proliferation of these illegal online gambling operations, it is clear that the Philippine Entertainment and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) needs to step up its efforts to better shut down the country's online gambling operations," he added."

He also stressed that the social costs associated with gambling, especially online bookmakers, far outweigh its economic benefits.

Separately, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel (Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III) said Filipino entertainment and gaming companies need to do more and remain vigilant and energetic in carrying out their functions.

(Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III)

Pimentel said the government should be able to abandon activities that bring law and order problems, attract criminals to Philippine soil and cause reputational damage, even if they bring money to government coffers.

meanwhile, after the shocking news of the internet bookmaker's central involvement in prostitution came to light, senator zhang qiaowei urgently pleaded with little marcos to ban the internet bookmaker immediately and completely.

Zhang Qiaowei stressed: "This may be the worst ever for an online gambling company. It is deeply disturbing that what we are seeing here is essentially an independent sexual exploitation and slavery center."

(Zhang Qiaowei)

He added: "This incident clearly confirms the concern we have expressed for a long time-that unless we shut down the entire industry, criminal activity related to online betting companies will continue to intensify."

According to Zhang Qiaowei, it appears that the Philippine Entertainment Gaming Company issued an Internet gambling license to the Intelligent Network Technology Company located in a six-story building on Williams Street in Pasay City without conducting a thorough inspection.

Philippine National Police (PNP) authorities said the company continued to operate even after its license was revoked under a different name in September this year, indicating that the company is not efficient in regulating the country's online gaming and gambling business.

In order to improve the regulation of POGO, the Philippine Entertainment & Gaming Company (Pagcor) has canceled all POGO licenses in September this year. The Internet Gaming License (IGL) took the place of POGO. The Philippine Entertainment Gaming Company said earlier that the full list of Internet gaming license licensees will be released by the end of this month.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Cheung has been urging the expulsion of the country's online gambling operators, citing increasing criminal activity in the industry, including human trafficking, kidnapping, homicide, illegal ring-up, extortion, theft, robbery, grievous bodily harm, scams, severe coercion, investment scams, cryptocurrency scams, love scams (pig-killing), and, more recently, increased prostitution.