Philippines: AMLC revokes third POGO registration

Smarc Group International, a POGO operator, has been added to the AMLC list of POGOs that have failed to cooperate with the regulator.

The Philippines.- A third Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), Smarc Group International, has had its registration revoked by the AMLC. According to the regulator, it failed to cooperate with its compliance checking. It receives the same fate as MG Universal Link Limited (MG Universal) and Inner Strong Limited (Inner Strong), two POGOs whose licences were revoked in October.

In February, POGOs were ordered to register for the electronic reporting system managed by the AMLC. The decision followed an amendment to the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 that includes real estate developers and brokers, and offshore gaming operators under the Act.

The new regulation reads: “These persons and entities are required to report covered and suspicious transactions to the AMLC within the period prescribed and for the threshold amount fixed by the law.”

Failure to register means “a failure to electronically file covered and suspicious transaction reports with the AMLC, which is a money laundering offence.”

Philippines banks warned to work only with registered POGOs

The Central Bank of the Philippines has issued a warning about unlicensed POGOs. Chuchi Fonacier, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor, warned that BSP-regulated financial institutions (BSFI) should strictly comply with the requirements for customer due diligence, continuous monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting. 

There are currently 36 licensed POGO operators in The Philippines.