MANILA, Philippines — All Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) including its workers, must halt their operations and leave the country today.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the complete ban on POGOs during his third State of the Nation Address in July and had given them until December 31 to cease their operations.

According to Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval, out of the 33,000 foreign POGO workers, at least 21,000 have downgraded their Philippine visas, with most of them having already left the country.

The latest tally from the Bureau of Immigration showed that at least 7,000 POGO workers are set to leave the country today following the executive order banning POGO operations, citing its “high reputational” risks to deter foreign investment and tourism.

It also said that POGOs and internet gaming licenses are “undermining” the efforts of the national government in “promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination.”

According to BI, those who will fail to leave the country today will be blacklisted and deported.

Aside from blacklisting and deportation, Philippine authorities will also begin arresting POGO companies who attempt to operate discreetly.

These POGO hubs are reportedly shifting to smaller-scale setups in resorts, condominiums, and even gated communities.

For its part, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has already ordered the closure of all POGO hubs in the country after it issued a shortened validity of employment permits for foreign and local POGO workers to December 31.

Later this month, the largest POGO hub in the country, located in Kawit, Cavite, was shut down.

The facility had over 30,000 employees, half of whom were reportedly Filipinos, according to authorities.

‘POGO ban won’t hurt economy’

Following the shutdown of POGOs in the country, PAGCOR chief Alejandro noted that even though it would lose over P20 billion in revenues, the issuance of new gaming licenses would cover such losses.

For its part, the Department of Interior and Local Government said that the shutdown won’t leave a big dent in the Philippine economy, saying that other revenue-enhancing measures of the Department of Finance will make up for the closure of POGOs.

“As per the National Economic Development Authority, 0.25 of 1 percent of the total gross domestic product will be affected (by the closure), we don’t see a significant dent in our economy,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.