The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is now working to recover PHP2.02 billion (US$35.6 million) in unpaid license fees from numerous gaming firms operating under the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) scheme. The said operators have not paid their obligation for more than a year, prompting the regulator to take legal action against them.
PAGCOR to File Cases Against 33 POGOs
Alejandro Tengco, Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, confirmed that they are now in the process of obtaining relevant information for the filing of cases against the violators. All 33 companies flagged by the agency were granted licenses under the Duterte administration. Some of them have since left the Philippines and are no longer in operation, according to PAGCOR.
Tengco said they remain committed to ensuring that all licensed entities, including POGOs and service providers, fully comply with the country’s gaming laws.
Former POGO Auditor Also Being Pursued
The agency is also pursuing Global ComRCI, the company previously hired as a third-party auditor for licensed offshore gaming operations. PAGCOR is seeking to retrieve the PHP 1 billion (US$17.6 million) it paid to the management consulting firm as part of the consultancy deal. PAGCOR terminated the contract in March 2023 after it found that the company had been in default of its obligations and committed unlawful acts.
