Philippine Offshore Operators Move to Sri Lanka — Thousands of Workers Follow

^{Colombo, Sri Lanka / Shutterstock.com}

Following the Philippines’ ban on offshore online gambling, some operators that had been based there have relocated to Sri Lanka, including to the Port City special economic zone in Colombo, according to an investigation by Moneta Brief.

The companies are former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) — businesses that previously operated from the Philippines while primarily targeting overseas markets. In 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. imposed a full ban on the industry amid investigations into human trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime and other violations.

According to Moneta Brief, some of the largest gambling groups now operating in Sri Lanka had previously been active in the Philippines. Their projects target, among other markets, countries where online gambling is banned or restricted.

Thousands of workers from China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia have followed the companies to Sri Lanka, some without the required permits. Former POGO employees and new recruits are being hired through social media, with monthly salaries of $1,200–$2,000, or about 99,000–165,000 rubles, plus accommodation and meals.

Port City Colombo is a special economic zone located in the Sri Lankan capital

Many of the companies are believed to be Chinese-owned, while some of their executives are Malaysian nationals. Moneta Brief also links some of the entities to criminal groups from East Asia.

Sri Lankan authorities are reviewing their activities. The issue of cross-border illegal gambling is also being discussed with Thailand and Cambodia.

Earlier, Sri Lankan authorities ordered the blocking of more than 100 domains belonging to unlicensed gambling services and mirror sites. The list included a domain previously used by the Russian bookmaker 1xStavka, as well as websites associated with 1xBet, 1win, Stake and Parimatch.