Scammers Ponder Next Step After Philippines Offshore Casino Ban

The allure of quick money led Aming from Fujian province to the Philippines to work in the offshore gambling industry, which had flourished due to Chinese gamblers [para. 1]. However, he's now back in his hometown, Anxi county, as profits have dwindled over the years, culminating in the Philippine president’s recent announcement of a ban on POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators) [para. 1][para. 2]. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the need to stop POGOs due to their involvement in crimes beyond gambling, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, and even murder [para. 3].

This sector had thrived under Marcos' predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who legalized online gambling in 2016 [para. 4]. The ban followed investigations into Alice Guo, a Philippine city mayor with Chinese roots, accused of money laundering through entities with alleged POGO links and connections to criminals in Singapore's largest money laundering case [para. 4]. As a result, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration has ordered all foreign POGO workers, estimated at 20,000, to leave the country within two months, many of whom are Chinese nationals [para. 5].

Aming is not alone in contemplating his next move. Acheng, another individual from near Anxi involved in telecom fraud, explained that the profitability of these operations had already been declining before the ban [para. 6][para. 9]. He highlighted the globalization of Chinese-run fraud gangs targeting English-speaking foreigners [para. 7], and the role of AI translation in facilitating these scams [para. 8]. Aming mentioned he earned only 100,000 yuan ($13,800) last year due to China's crackdown on online gambling and fraud, coupled with high living expenses in gambling hubs [para. 10][para. 9].

Since 2018, Beijing and Manila have worked together to repatriate around 3,000 Chinese nationals involved in POGOs, with nearly 1,000 citizens extradited in 2023 alone [para. 11]. Despite the crackdown, the allure of quick money remains strong [para. 12]. The success of these operations relies heavily on tech-savvy individuals who write software, exploit loopholes, and target victims, making them highly profitable but illegal ventures [para. 13].

Many of the masterminds behind these operations have extensive criminal records [para. 14]. Anxi, known for its tea production, has become a center for cyber fraud, exploiting the spread of messaging platforms like WeChat initially for legitimate business before turning to fraudulent activities [para. 15]. Acheng noted that while most involved in online fraud and gambling are in their thirties and forties, new university graduates and postgraduates are increasingly joining their ranks, equipped with skills, intelligence, and an international outlook [para. 16].

The Philippine crackdown was anticipated by many in the industry, just as a previous crackdown in Singapore had been [para. 17]. Despite short-term disruptions, the businesspeople involved are expected to find new opportunities [para. 17]. Currently, eight Southeast Asian countries have legalized casino operations, including the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and others, with offshore gambling still permitted in some places like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam [para. 18].

The individuals mentioned, such as Aming, Acheng, and Ade, are pseudonyms used to protect their identities [para. 19]. The article credits Chloe Xue for translation and provides contact information for reporters Kelly Wang and editor Joshua Dummer [para. 20][para. 21].