Leechiu Property Consultants released a statement claiming that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are now contributing more to the local Philippine economy than outsourcing companies, another PH big business.
POGO operators now contribute nearly P551 Billion to the Philippine’s economy yearly. Salaries consume most of the income, but office rental and housing rentals also play a big part. For an estimated 470k employees in the offshore business, an estimated P504 billion goes to their salaries.
Ever since President Rodrigo Duterte took office, the offshore gambling business has exploded, and despite his dislike for gambling, he told media sources that he would allow offshore operators to continue despite pressure from China to uproot the industry. Duterte told reporters that the industry is needed to stimulate the economy and that he would never allow this stupidity if there were more jobs in the Philippines.
Recently the Philippines said they were going to crack down on the POGO industry, and the president told operators to make sure they paid their taxes. The PH government has made good on their word and in recent weeks has made multiple arrests and even deported some illegal Chinese immigrants working in the Philippines without a permit.
PH offshore operators are not allowed to offer their services to local residents due to Philippine gambling laws. These laws only enable operators to provide their games and other gambling services to other countries that will allow them access to their residents. For the most part, the POGO operators target China and other Asian countries.
Philippine legal online casinos and other online gambling services are not allowed in China, but still, many Chinese operators are moving to the Philippines and targeting their homeland.
There are no operating casinos in the Peoples Republic of China except in Macau, which is in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This region has its own set of laws, but the sovereignty of the British colony was transferred to China in 1997. Despite being a limited democracy, China still tries to insert itself in Hong Kong Politics. Currently, Hong Kong is fighting the mainland to keep their rights.