The recent calls to ban offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the Philippines may seem like a firm stance against crime and corruption, but banning legal gambling rarely solves the problem—it just pushes it underground.
This is the concern raised by Professor Ron Mendoza, who warns that eliminating regulated gaming platforms creates a dangerous vacuum. “If we ban it outright, we push the industry underground. That’s worse,” he told Insider PH. His words carry weight, especially in a region where unregulated online betting syndicates already operate across borders, beyond the reach of national laws.
A blanket ban on POGOs could also harm the legitimate economic contributions these firms make—employment, tax revenues, and infrastructure investments that, if monitored effectively, can be harnessed for public good. Instead of banning, Mendoza proposes smarter regulation: stricter licensing, transparent auditing, better enforcement, and collaboration with international bodies.
This approach is not only more realistic—it’s more effective. History has shown that prohibition leads to fragmented, harder-to-track networks, not the elimination of vice. It also emboldens illegal operators who no longer have to compete with legal alternatives.
Countries like the UK, Spain, and even Colombia have adopted robust licensing frameworks that balance control with industry growth. The Philippines has the same opportunity.
Smart regulation isn’t about encouraging gambling—it’s about controlling it, protecting consumers, and limiting crime. Prohibition, on the other hand, leaves regulators blind and players exposed. In a digital world, shutting down online gambling isn’t feasible. But regulating it with data, integrity, and cross-border oversight? That’s the future.
