TLDR
- The Philippine DOJ warned that illegal offshore gaming operations (POGOs) could return despite a nationwide ban.
- Operators have shifted from large compounds to small sites, including single rooms in homes.
- Recent raids found operations mainly run by Chinese nationals using visa loopholes or expired permits.
- Police are pursuing dismissed police and military personnel allegedly hired to guard the sites.
- Landlords who knowingly rent space to these operations could face asset seizures under anti-trafficking laws.
The Philippine Department of Justice has warned that illegal offshore gaming operations could return, even though they are banned nationwide. Officials say operators are moving into smaller spaces to avoid being caught.
Authorities are now focusing on the security, immigration, and property arrangements that help these businesses keep running.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said enforcement actions have broken up large gaming compounds made up of several buildings. However, he said closing those sites does not mean the business has stopped.
Some operators have split their work into smaller, spread-out setups. In some cases, these operations run from single rooms inside homes.
Operators Shift to Smaller Spaces
The nationwide ban falls under the Anti-POGO Act of 2025. According to the DOJ, illegal operators have changed their methods to stay away from the large compounds that police raided in the past.
Recent raids have uncovered small-scale businesses, including some running from one room of a residential property. These setups have replaced the large compounds where much of the activity once took place.
Many syndicates have broken into small cells that share equipment and services. This structure makes them harder to spot through normal regulatory checks and police raids.
The DOJ’s warning covers both the ongoing operation of these businesses and the chance of a larger comeback. Smaller sites let illegal activity continue in places that are less visible to authorities.
Immigration and Security Under Review
Ty said recent raids found operations mainly run by Chinese nationals. Some entered the country through visa loopholes, while others stayed after their permits expired.
Authorities have increased monitoring of immigration arrangements and of the properties used for illegal gambling. The goal is to go beyond shutting down sites and to cut off the resources that keep them running.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police are also pursuing dismissed police and military personnel. These individuals were allegedly hired to protect the hidden operations.
Investigators are looking into claims that they worked as private security to keep inspectors away from the sites. Their alleged role brings the security networks behind illegal operators into the scope of enforcement.
Property leasing is another area of focus for the government. Commercial landlords and property managers who knowingly rent space to unauthorized online gaming or scam operations may face legal action under anti-trafficking laws.
Possible penalties include asset seizures. The warning applies to anyone who knowingly leases property for these activities.
The latest guidance places landlords under the same scrutiny as the operators using their buildings, as the DOJ works to stop a resurgence of the banned industry.
