Online gambling isn’t feeling welcome in the Philippines. A group of Filipino senators are celebrating an apparent exodus of gambling companies, with one saying “Good Riddance” to the industry. After being called a hub of online gambling in Asia, how come online gambling is getting such a cold response?

First, in a country where politics can seem so completely foreign for an outsider, this is in fact politics as usual under the government of Rodrigo Duterte. Second, everybody wants a piece of the lucrative pie.

That leaves the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGOs) stuck between a rock and a hard place. While attempting to survive a pandemic, the industry also has to contend with scandals, grand standing senators, and a government which rather bleed it dry, than foster something greater.

It’s about the Politics