Offshore gaming is one of fastest growing sectors in Philippines

[The Buzz]

It was just a few years ago that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared war on online gambling saying, "Online gambling must stop. It has sprouted here and there. This is out of control."

But since offshore gaming has since been embraced by the administration, it has become one of the economy's fastest-growing sectors, employing over 350,000 people, including around 100,000 mainly Chinese foreign workers, according to estimates.

From Asian Review:

Backed by exploding demand for online gaming from mainland China -- where gambling is officially illegal -- the 56 licensed Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, are expected to rake in over $8 billion in revenue this year, nearly double what the country's brick-and-mortar casinos, including the four flagship integrated resorts, took in last year.

The online gaming boom is attracting locally listed companies. Gaming technology company DFNN Inc. announced on July 17 that it had set up its own offshore gaming subsidiary, Nico Bayan.

Online casinos are growing so fast that they could overtake the $24.5 billion business process outsourcing industry -- mainly comprised of call centers -- as Metro Manila's largest office tenant this year, according to POGO real estate brokerage Leechiu Property Consultants.

In the first half of the year, online casinos accounted for 36% of business tenant space, just behind outsourcing companies at 37%, said CEO David Leechiu.

"BPOs take nine months to do a lease, POGOs nine minutes," said Leechiu. "Without POGOs, this market would have crashed.

Read more here: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Med...gambling-boom2

[pseudonym]

it\s explosive, but also ruthless. the last two months saw people getting shot in the head in front of their offices on three different occasions. there have also been near-weekly deportations going on, at the request of mainland chinese authorities. those deportations weren't always online gambling related, but it proves that being based in the philippines doesn't make the operation bulletproof

[PROFRBcom]

it\s explosive, but also ruthless. the last two months saw people getting shot in the head in front of their offices on three different occasions. there have also been near-weekly deportations going on, at the request of mainland chinese authorities. those deportations weren't always online gambling related, but it proves that being based in the philippines doesn't make the operation bulletproof

Shot in the head?
Proof? Links?

[ocreditor]

So online gambling must stop but at the same time they have office for issuing licenses... right...

[PROFRBcom]

So online gambling must stop but at the same time they have office for issuing licenses... right...

#governmentknowsbest

[drifter8]

#whitecollorsruntheshowalways

[pseudonym]

Shot in the head?
Proof? Links?

these reports aren't newsworthy enough to end up on english websites. but it is heavily discussed in chinese chat rooms dedicated to employees working in the philippines. the chinese embassy in manila issued a warning several days ago where they bring up such murders https://globalnation.inquirer.net/17...hinese-workers