President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced a ban on all Philippines Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), effective immediately, with operations required to cease by the end of the year. This decision, revealed during his State of the Nation Address, follows increasing calls for the shutdown of POGOs due to various scandals associated with their operations.
The move comes amid heightened efforts to combat foreign crime syndicates and illegal offshore gaming activities. POGOs have been implicated in numerous crimes, including money laundering, financial scams, human trafficking, and even violent acts such as kidnapping and murder.
Senator Joel Villanueva had previously pushed for a total ban on online gambling in the Philippines, including POGOs. In July, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced that POGO hubs would no longer be permitted to operate.
In his speech, Marcos said: “Effective immediately, all POGOs are banned. I direct PAGCOR to shut down POGO operations by the end of the year.” He criticised these operators for masquerading as legitimate businesses while engaging in illegal activities.
CT Interactive has expanded its presence in Latin America by launching its games on Juegalo.com
CT Interactive has taken a significant step in its Latin American expansion by launching its games on Juegalo.com, a leading online casino brand in Chile. This partnership represents an important move for CT Interactive, allowing the company to broaden its reach in the Chilean market.
By integrating its diverse and high-quality game portfolio with Juegalo.com, CT Interactive is now providing Chilean players with a wide range of engaging and regulation-compliant gaming options.
Maximiliano Hoyl, head of BD and Providers at Juegalo.com, stated: “We are excited to introduce CT Interactive’s games to our platform. Their outstanding reputation for delivering top-notch gaming content perfectly aligns with our mission to offer the best possible gaming experience.”
Diego Verano, head of BD LatAm at CT Interactive, remarked: “Expanding into the Chilean market with Juegalo.com underscores our strategic focus on increasing our presence throughout Latin America. Juegalo.com is a leading name in Chile’s online casino landscape, making them a key partner in our growth strategy in this region.”
Romania unveils new strategy to address gambling-related harm
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has signed a decree to establish a new strategy aimed at addressing addiction, including gambling-related harm. This initiative, developed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice, plans to create eight regional centers dedicated to treating addictions, with one center in each of Romania’s eight administrative regions.
The strategy seeks to improve treatment options for drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions, with a particular focus on individuals under 25. Currently, most treatment services are provided by private clinics and non-governmental organisations. The Ministry of Justice will oversee the implementation of this project, although no specific timeline has been set.
Justice Minister Alina Gorghiu noted that her party, the National Liberal Party (PNL), had taken the lead on this important issue. She highlighted the need for the state to address these serious problems, especially among the younger generation.
Concerns about gambling addiction have been raised by Romanian MPs. However, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s executive order to ban gambling venues in small towns encountered a legal challenge when the Supreme Court determined that the order required a constitutional review.
Pragmatic Play has announced a new partnership with RETAbet
Pragmatic Play has signed a new content partnership with a leading operator RETAbet. This agreement integrates Pragmatic Play’s suite of offerings into RETAbet’s platform.
Irina Cornides, Pragmatic Play’s Chief Operating Officer, remarked: “RETAbet’s extensive market presence aligns well with Pragmatic Play’s objectives. We are confident that our portfolio, which has proven successful in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, will be embraced by their player base.”
Alvaro Gonzalez, Chief Marketing Officer at RETAbet, added: “Partnering with Pragmatic Play will significantly strengthen our reputation in both Latin America and Europe. We are going to offer our players top-tier products, and we believe that their diverse range of games will appeal to audiences across Spain and Peru. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration ahead.”
The Gambling Commission has released its first annual report for the Great Britain Gambling Survey
The Gambling Commission has unveiled the first annual report from the Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB), which includes data from 9,804 respondents and is expected to expand to 20,000 participants by next year.
The GSGB was introduced to revamp the approach to collecting data on adult gambling behaviours and the prevalence of problem gambling.
Key findings from the report indicate that 48% of adults aged 18 and over engaged in some form of gambling within the past four weeks.
Regarding attitudes towards gambling, 41% of those who gambled in the past year rated their most recent gambling experience positively, with scores between 6 and 10. The predominant motivation for gambling, cited by 86% of participants, was the prospect of winning substantial money.
The survey also revealed that 2.5% of respondents had a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of 8 or higher. However, Professor Patrick Sturgis has cautioned that the new methodology might overestimate the actual levels of gambling and gambling-related harm in the population.
