{"id":485,"date":"2025-02-19T04:34:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T04:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canwestgames.com\/?p=485"},"modified":"2025-02-19T04:34:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T04:34:54","slug":"a-once-thriving-industry-now-under-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canwestgames.com\/a-once-thriving-industry-now-under-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"A Once Thriving Industry Now Under Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For years, the online gaming industry in the Philippines was booming, providing thousands of jobs, attracting foreign investment, and boosting the economy. However, the government\u2019s intensified crackdown on this sector has changed the landscape entirely. With stricter regulations and mass closures of gaming operations, the effects have rippled across various industries, leaving many areas\u2014especially in Metro Manila\u2014eerily quiet, reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdown days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having recently returned to Makati, I couldn\u2019t believe what I saw. Once a bustling financial and entertainment hub, it now feels like a ghost town. Many shops, bars, and restaurants have shut down permanently, victims of the ongoing clampdown. The once-thriving economy, fueled by online gaming operators and their employees, has taken a massive hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why is this happening? And what are the broader economic effects<\/a>? Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Why is the Government Clamping Down on Online Gaming?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Philippine government has been increasingly wary of the online gaming industry, citing several reasons for its crackdown:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. National Security Concerns<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Authorities claim that some online gaming operators (commonly referred to as POGOs – Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) have been linked to criminal activities such as fraud, money laundering, and even human trafficking. The government sees tighter regulations as a way to prevent these illicit activities from continuing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arestado ang 3 Chinese habang nasagip ang 23 Pinoy sa hinihinalang POGO hub sa Calamba, Laguna.

Nakipagtalo pa ang manager at mga Chinese sa mga awtoridad at iginiit na hindi sila POGO kundi telecommunications installation company.

Kaugnay na ulat:
https:\/\/t.co\/zfMQAjUQ8y<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wEjWY3ifBe<\/a><\/p>— TV Patrol (@TVPatrol) February 14, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>