24,000 foreign workers exit Philippines after online gambling ban
Around 24,000 foreign workers have left the Philippines after online casinos, which mostly cater to overseas customers, shut down per government’s policy shift.
The Bureau of Immigration, which provided the data, has told foreign employees who were affected by the ban, to exit the country, according to a report by Nikkei Asia.
The Philippines government in July ordered all online casino operators to shut down by year-end amid criticism that the industry was linked to criminal activities.
The country’s largest hub for online gambling operators, Island Cove in Cavite Province, was shut down on Dec. 17.
At its peak the 33-hectare facility employed up to 30,000 workers.
Online game operators were granted licenses in 2016 during the administration of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
These casinos, primarily targeting Chinese customers, also drew a significant number of Chinese workers to the country.
At their peak, there were 300 operators, but the pandemic and tighter tax rules forced many to relocate or go underground, Reuters reported.
As of July only 42 firms operate with a license, directly and indirectly employing around 63,000 Filipino and foreign workers.
The Philippine gambling industry's revenue is projected to reach a record of more than 350 billion pesos ($6.03 billion) this year, driven by growth in the electronic gaming sector, according to government data.
