Senator Win Gatchalian assailed the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for its failure to come up with a relevant and comprehensive plan on how to grow the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) even as it calls for their continued presence in the country.
“Despite having taken a stand supportive of POGOs, it has become clear that PAGCOR lacks a thorough appreciation of the industry. Given many uncertainties relating to the industry, we cannot gamble on our peace and order, life, and liberty, and just cross our fingers that everything will work out fine,” Gatchalian said.
According to him, the four-page roadmap of PAGCOR for the POGO industry presented at a hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means lacks any basis and context.
Unfortunately, PAGCOR’s roadmap for the POGO industry does not have any of these details. At best, the roadmap is a mere wish list and at worst, plain rubbish,” said Gatchalian, who chairs the committee.
PAGCOR’s roadmap for the POGO industry sets a P10.227 billion revenue target by 2027, increasing from a projected income of P2.38 billion for the year, and a target of P3.45 billion in 2023, P4.84 billion in 2024, P6.29 billion in 2025 and P7.86 billion in 2026. According to PAGCOR, the components of the roadmap include intensifying inter-agency cooperation, encouraging more POGO hubs, increasing the number of licensees, and eliminating social ills.
Gatchalian took note, however, that while the roadmap is quite ambitious, PAGCOR lacks relevant data on the industry, such as total revenues from POGO operations across the globe, total number of operators, current market share of the country against its competitors, and other relevant information, that would enable the gambling regulator to make correct market assumptions and make suitable plans.
“Importante na naiintindihan nang husto ng PAGCOR bilang operator, bukod sa pagiging regulator, ang industriya ng POGO upang matimbang natin ang mga benepisyo kontra sa mga problemang dulot ng kanilang operasyon sa bansa. Nakakalungkot na walang matibay at komprehensibong plano ang PAGCOR kung paano palaguin ang industriya,” Gatchalian said.
The Senate hearing is aimed at weighing the economic benefits derived from POGO operations in the country in the face of reported rise in criminality attributed to the industry. # # #
