Sri Lanka Emerges as a New Base for Former POGO Workers as Regulators Tighten Gambling Rules

Reports say multiple former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers are moving to Sri Lanka, with Colombo Port City emerging as a new hub. For PSPs and acquiring teams, the interesting part is not the migration itself, but the familiar pattern it suggests: offshore gaming activity, regulatory scrutiny, and a jurisdiction trying to get ahead of the mess before it grows teeth.

1. Multiple POGO workers, including Cambodian, Chinese, Philippine, and Vietnamese nationals, are said to be moving to Sri Lanka and choosing Colombo Port City as a base. The shift follows Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to outlaw POGOs in 2024.
2. The crackdown in the Philippines was tied to regulatory issues and the association of some operators with crime. POGOs were ultimately banned under the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which allowed the government to appropriate property and assets tied to illegal POGO operations.
3. Since then, PAGCOR has introduced stricter gaming laws to keep the sector under tighter control. The underlying message for payment providers is straightforward: where offshore gaming clusters move, enforcement tends to follow.
4. Sri Lanka is already taking a harder line on unlicensed operators targeting local players, with authorities recently blocking over a hundred illegal platforms. A new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has also been created to oversee the gaming sector and watch for potential POGO-related issues.
5. Earlier this year, Sri Lanka raised its casino taxes and the fee patrons must pay to enter gambling facilities. The change took effect on January 1, lifting the gross collection levy for casinos to 18% and doubling the casino entrance fee to $100.

Colombo Port City matters here because it is described as a key foreign investment hub, which is exactly the sort of place where gaming-related payment flows can become a compliance question before they become a headline.