TUCP seeks creation of body to manage online gambling industry

MANILA, Philippines —— The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has proposed the creation of a coordinating body to manage and control the growth of the offshore online gambling industry.

This developed after the country’s largest labor union saw the influx of more Chinese workers in the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) industry amid an online gambling crackdown in Cambodia.

“While we are assessing the Pogo’s overall social implications and weighing the comprehensive benefits of this online gambling industry in our economy by putting on hold issuance of new operating licenses, the TUCP would like to propose the creation of a Pogo coordinating body that has supervision and control of the industry for the benefit of the country,” said TUCP president Raymond Mendoza in a statement.

The Cambodian government has reportedly banned the issuance of new online licenses and ordered a crackdown on thousands of Chinese workers employed in the operations.

Mendoza said the country remained attractive to Chinese online operators and workers, though the Philippine government suspended issuing new licenses to prospective Pogo operators.