Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro on Thursday said the Marcos administration is studying the potential impact of banning Philippine inland gaming operations (PIGO).
In a Palace briefing, Castro clarified that unlike Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which were banned due to links to criminal activities, PIGOs have not been found to contribute to crime so far.
“As of now, studies show that PIGO is not a cause of crime… If there are statistics or data proving otherwise, it would be helpful to present them so they can be considered in any decision regarding a possible ban,” Castro said.
She highlighted key differences between the two gaming operations. While POGOs primarily employed foreigners, around 90 percent of PIGO employees are Filipinos.
Additionally, PIGO’s advertising and marketing funds are spent domestically, benefiting the local economy, unlike POGOs, which direct much of their financial activities abroad.
Tax compliance was another issue raised. POGOs had a history of evasion, with some sublicensees failing to pay taxes, leading to revenue losses for the government. In contrast, PIGO operations reportedly contribute significantly to tax revenues.
Despite these distinctions, Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not hesitate to impose a total ban on PIGOs if needed: “If what happened with POGOs happens with PIGO, the President will not hesitate to impose a total ban… But of course, we need data to support such a dec