Philippine House committee approves bill to ban all offshore gaming operators

The House committee on games and amusements in the Philippines has approved a bill to ban all Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). This decision aims to prevent the emergence of similar establishments in the future. House Bill No. 10987 consolidates several previous measures and seeks to end all Pogo-related activities. The bill follows a government crackdown on illegal activities linked to Pogos, including human trafficking and online scams. Since a total Pogo ban was announced in July, over 21,000 foreign workers have had their visas downgraded. The Department of Labor is implementing programs to assist nearly 30,000 Filipinos affected by the ban.