China to PH: Ban online gambling

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — China praised the country's decision to stop accepting new applications for offshore gaming operations, and even called on the Duterte administration to take it a step further.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang on Tuesday reacted to the announcement of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation that it has stopped accepting new license applications for Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) until all concerns "have been reviewed and addressed."

"We hope the Philippines will go further and ban all online gambling," Geng said.

He said it will further strengthen law enforcement between the two countries, including tackling criminal activities linked to online gambling and cyber fraud.

PAGCOR has refused new applications since three weeks ago, its chairperson Andrea Domingo said. There are currently 58 licensed POGO operators, while three other groups have pending licenses.

In July, PAGCOR approved the creation of two "self-contained" POGO hubs to limit interaction between Filipinos and Chinese workers. Vice President Leni Robredo also proposed to temporarily stop POGO operations amid questions about legality.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana cautioned last week that foreign POGOs, mostly employing Chinese workers, may shift operations to spying. There have been questions about POGOs located near military camps and even the Senate.