Philippine authorities have indicated that some 24,000 former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators’ (POGOs) employees have already left the Philippines.
According to the nation’s news agency, this is part of the 33,000 workers registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), per data from immigration.
In addition, some 8,000 workers downgraded their work visa to a visitor visa, with immigration authorities noting that “There are only a few left. Less than a thousand are unaccounted for. We will continue to seek them out”.
POGO operations have until December 31st to shutter operations, after which the Bureau of Immigration official notes that authorities will start “blacklisting them”.
The move to export foreign POGO workers comes amongst the shutdown of the offshore gaming industry, mandated by the nation’s president earlier this year.
