Key points:
- The Philippine Senate has passed the Anti-POGO Act of 2025 on its final reading
- The bill bans all offshore gaming operations and mandates the forfeiture of related assets
- Senator Win Gatchalian, the bill's author, described the measure as responding to public demands to end offshore gaming operations while protecting Filipino citizens
The Philippine Senate has passed Senate Bill 2868 – known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025 – on its third and final reading, marking a major legislative milestone in the country’s efforts to permanently ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Senator Win Gatchalian, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and principal author of the bill, welcomed the approval, describing it as a decisive move to safeguard public welfare and institutionalise the Government’s existing ban on offshore gaming.
The measure, if enacted into law, will repeal Republic Act 11590, which had previously legitimised POGO operations in the Philippines.
Commenting on the development, Gatchalian stated: "The measure not only bans offshore gaming operations but also builds safeguards for our people.
“The welfare of the people should never be compromised for the sake of profits from illegal businesses. This isn't just a law – it's the people's demand to end the POGO menace.”
Good to know: Senate Bill 2868 also mandates the forfeiture of all POGO-related properties and equipment, aiming to prevent these assets from being repurposed in any future illegal operations
The bill is listed among the priority legislation that the Government seeks to enact before the congressional session concludes this month.
The legislative progress comes as the local gaming industry continues to grow despite the POGO sector’s decline.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reported a 25% year-on-year increase in Gross Gaming Revenue in 2024, driven by a surge in E-Games and E-Bingo activities.
