AN ACT BANNING AND DECLARING ILLEGAL OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER OPERATIONS RELATED THERETO, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED ELEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED NINETY. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT TAXING PHILIPPINE OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATIONS", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

View printer friendly version Manila Bulletin, October 29, 2025 p.6; 121 OG No. 45, 12824 (November 10, 2025) [ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12312, October 23, 2025 ] AN ACT BANNING AND DECLARING ILLEGAL OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER OPERATIONS RELATED THERETO, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED ELEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED NINETY. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT TAXING PHILIPPINE OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATIONS", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-POGO Act of 2025". SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes that the maintenance of peace and orders, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are paramount for the meaningful enjoyment of democracy. The State likewise values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights. To this end, offshore gaming operations in the Philippines are hereby banned and declared unlawful. SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act: (a) POGO accredited service provider refers to any person or entity duly licensed by the authorities who supplies to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Support services may include customer service, information, information technology service, marketing, customer registration and verification, payment solutions, odds making, office support, leasing of office space, and other similar services which are indispensable to offshore gaming operations in the Philippines; (b) POGO gaming content provider refers to any person or entity who supplies or manages gaming content for gaming websites such as gaming software or platforms provider and data or content streaming provider for POGOs; (c) POGO gaming equipment refers to any equipment such as computers, computer systems, and information and communication technology devices used remotely or directly in offshore gaming; (d) POGO gaming paraphernalia refers to any apparatus, furnishing, or accessory used or necessary in offshore gaming operations; (e) POGO local gaming agent refers to a duly constituted business enterprise organized in the Philippines or a person of good repute and financial standing who represents foreign-based POGOs in the Philippines; (f) Offshore gaming refers to offering of or participating in online games of chance or sporting events via the internet using a network and software or program operating in the Philippines, including special economic, freeport, and tourism infrastructure and enterprise zones, catered to offshore players; (g) Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) refers to any person or entity organized in the Philippines or any foreign country who conducts in the Philippines offshore gaming operations by themselves or through the services of POGO accredited services providers; and (h) POGO hub or POGO site refers to any structure, such as residential or commercial buildings or complexes, that host or house any of the offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, as well as other logistical, administrative, and support services for offshore gaming businesses or operations. SEC. 4. Prohibited Acts. - Upon the effectivity of this Act, it shall be prohibited for any person or entity to conduct or offer offshore gaming as defined under this law. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to the following acts: (a) Establishment, operation, or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines; (b) Acceptance of any form of betting for offshore gaming operations; (c) Acting as a POGO gaming content provider or POGO services provider; (d) Creation and operation of a POGO hub or POGO site in the Philippines; (e) Introduction, use, or possession of POGO gaming equipment or POGO gaming paraphernalia in the Philippines; and (f) Aiding, protecting, or abetting the conduct of any act or activity prohibited under this Act, including the following: (1) Registering companies used to conceal offshore gaming operations; (2) Providing any kinds of spurious identification cards, birth certificates, passports, licenses, and permits in support of offshore gaming operations; (3) Leasing, subleasing, using, or allowing the use of any house, building, tourism enterprise, or similar establishment; any vehicle or carrier by land, sea, and air; their computer systems, computer hardware, other computer-related devices, or any of their digital platforms or applications to commit prohibited activities under this Act; or (4) Facilitating, assisting, or helping in the exit and entry of persons from or to the country at international and local airports, territorial boundaries, and seaports, knowing they are not in possession of required travel documents, or are in possession of tampered, fake, or fraudulently acquired travel documents, for the purpose of committing prohibited activities under this Act. SEC. 5. Revocation of POGO Licenses and Prohibition to Operate. - The license of any person or entity as POGO, POGO gaming content provider, or POGO accredited service provider in relation to offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, previously issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), special economic zone authorities, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), freeport authorities, and other government agencies, are hereby withdrawn, revoked, or cancelled permanently. The shall immediately wind down their operations not later than the effectivity of this Act. The power of PAGCOR, special economic zone authorities, TIEZA, freeport authorities, investment promotion agencies, and other government agencies to issue a license or permit for the conduct of the offshore gaming, or to issue a license, permit, or accreditation to POGO gaming content providers and POGO-accredited service providers is hereby revoked. Any corporation which includes in its purpose any of the prohibited acts under Section 4 of directed to amend its Articles of Incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. Otherwise, its Certificate of Registration shall be deemed revoked by the SEC. SEC. 6. Cancellation of Work Permits and Visas. - All Alien Employment Permits (AEP) and certificates of exemption and exclusions issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and any visa or work permit issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or any other visa-issuing agencies to persons engaged in offshore gaming operations or employed by POGOs, POGO gaming content providers, and POGO accredited service providers are hereby withdrawn, revoked, or cancelled permanently: Provided, That upon the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, the BI, and other visa-issuing agencies shall not be allowed to issue any visa or work permit to any person for purposes related to offshore gaming operations: Provided, further,