26 POGOs found in violation of Philippine law

Almost half of POGOs listed the same addresses as those of their service providers despite being required to hire Philippine sevices.

Philippines.- The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has told a senate hearing it found evidence of violations being committed by almost half of registered Philippine online gaming operators (POGOs).  

AMLC executive director Mel George Racela said 26 out of the 62 POGOs registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) were found in breach.  

In their registrations, they listed the same addresses as their service providers, when the government requires that they hire local service providers in order contribute to the Philippine economy.  

Racela said the authorities are now gathering information on the owners of these POGOs, the People’s Television Network (PTNI) reported.  

Only about half of registered POGOs have resumed operations after the lockdown implemented to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Meanwhile, the AMLC has announced that due a lack of funds, it will discontinue a programme through which it used artificial intelligence to accelerate the evaluation of suspected illegal transactions.