PAGCOR bats for continued operations of POGOs

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation prefers to keep Philippine offshore gaming operations open so as not to miss out on income opportunities for the country.

PAGCOR Assistant Vice President Jose Tria said the country's online gaming industry could soon become mainstream at a time when many activities were done online —from food delivery to shopping to booking vehicles.

Tria made the remark after POGOs continue to draw criticisms for allegedly drawing Chinese criminals to the country. 

"Hindi remote yung possibility na the gaming industry will actually convert on a majority side to online gaming," Tria told GMA News.

"We have to look at POGO as a potential source of revenues in the future. So 'pag siya na talaga yung going trend and pinakawalan natin ito, we will be left with the land-based casinos na halos wala nang customers," he added.

Last year, PAGCOR earned P8 billion from regulatory fees imposed on 2% of POGOs' gross gaming revenues.

From 2017, when the PAGCOR started regulating POGOs, the revenues have reached P18 billion to date.

POGOs also provide employment to 19,000 Filipinos.

But this is a small number compared to the 90,000 foreign nationals they employ, majority of whom are Chinese nationals.

"Ang problema kasi natin, yung isang segment ng industry is the call centers. Ang duties nito is to invite players, guide them how to play, resolve issues pag, for example, nagkaroon ng glitches yung system," Tria said.

"So you really need employees who speak the language of your players," he added.

While calls for the closure of POGOs are mounting owing to the rising number of crimes involving them, PAGCOR wants POGOs to remain open for now.

Tria said the problems related to POGOs could still be resolved by various government agencies.

"Kung kami po, ang sagot natin ay hayaan nating mag-continue. Then we study. Darating naman tayo sa point na masasabi nating, 'Naku, di talaga natin kaya ito.' Then that’s the time we should really close it," Tria said. —NB, GMA News