A RECENT survey revealed that over half of Filipinos support a total ban on Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), formerly known as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), citing concerns over crime associated with these operations.
In a September survey, WR Numero found that 6 out of 10 Filipinos support the total ban imposed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last July. While 4 out of 10 said they support the closure of select IGLs.
Across regions, the strongest support for banning IGLs comes from respondents from the rest of Luzon (65%), followed by Metro Manila (64%), the Visayas (56%), and Mindanao (51%).
The findings form part of WR Numero’s Philippine Public Opinion Monitor which conducted a nationwide face-to-face survey among 1,765 Filipino adults between Sept. 5 and Sept. 23.
Most respondents (39%) credited the administration’s policy shift to Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel who led investigations into IGL operators in the upper chamber.
Mr. Marcos was credited by 33% of respondents, followed by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian (9%).
About 38% of respondents expressed concern over the potential economic impacts of the total ban, while 37% disagreed and 26% remained uncertain.
Concern was most evident in Visayas (47%) and Metro Manila (43%), with lower concern levels in Mindanao (35%) and Luzon outside Metro Manila (33%).
The Department of Finance (DoF) estimated that the reputational risk from IGL cost the government P55.36 billion in investments, while the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation estimated the foregone revenues if POGOs are shut down to be at P20 billion a year.
Business group Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier warned that the sudden closure of IGLs in the country could cause “massive” job losses and adversely impact the property and financial sectors.
Various crimes have been linked with illegal IGL operations, including human trafficking and abuse, scamming, and tax evasion. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
