Philippines Allocates $860,000 to Crack Down on Offshore Gambling

^{Pictured: NBI Director Jaime Santiago and PAGCOR CEO Alejandro Tengco}

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has granted $860,000 in financial assistance to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to support the fight against illegal gambling. The funds will be used in part to curb operations of offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which are banned in the country.

The Memorandum of Understanding authorizing the funding was signed on September 29, 2025, at PAGCOR’s executive offices, according to PAGCOR’s official website. Under the agreement, the NBI immediately received an initial tranche of $430,000.

“This financial assistance affirms PAGCOR’s commitment to responsible industry governance and our duty to ensure the state receives its fair share of revenue from legal gambling. We must also support law enforcement in shutting down illegal operations that undermine the integrity of the industry,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago noted that the funding will significantly boost the agency’s capacity to combat illegal POGOs and other unlawful gambling schemes. He also expressed gratitude to PAGCOR for its trust and support.

The funds will cover operational expenses tied to NBI’s enforcement work against illicit gambling.

Offshore gambling operations in the Philippines had been legal since 2016. However, the POGO sector became mired in criminal activities, including fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a total ban on offshore gambling in the country last year.

* PAGCOR — Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the state-owned entity regulating the gambling industry and operating the Casino Filipino chain across key cities.