Operation rescues 42 kidnapped Chinese nationals

@PalawOne

Seems to be a case of killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

If these Chinese are (presumably) rich enough to kidnap, and like to gamble, why not let them frequent your casino until they're spent?  Unless they didn't pay gambling debts?

Yes, seems a sensible idea.

However, not sure, but I think the Philippine police suspect that these casino operators are Chinese nationals, in the country illegally.

The police also suspect that these Chinese guys are luring other Chinese nationals to the Phils with promises of the high-life and then they kidnap and ransom them, and then they also sometimes kill them?

I think that's the basis of this story maybe?

My guess is these are Chinese who are running illegal online gambling in Philippines.   They  smuggle Chinese nationals in to work to their illegal "offices" and when one escapes, they would kidnap and kill them.   

It's called "Crackdown".

Youtube vid:  "China to crack down on gambling, POGO exploitation"

China under President XI Jinping has made no secret of its distaste for gambling in the former Portuguese territory of Macau and as such is imposing further restrictions and regulations on the casino industry there.

Manila has benefited from this and has become a major regional player (no pun intended) in the Asian orbit. My guess is that Macau's days are numbered (pun intended) and that Manila will become the Worlds casino capital in due course. These Chinese have probably 'offshored' as a result with the above consequences.

I had friends who were pathological gamblers & have seen first hand the destruction it caused to their careers/family well being and finally ended by them getting into trouble with loansharks and eventually getting bankrupt....it's an evil disease

The American Psychiatric Association defines pathological gambling as having 5 or more of the following symptoms: Committing crimes to get money to gamble. Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit gambling. Gambling to escape problems or feelings of sadness or anxiety.

I had friends who were pathological gamblers & have seen first hand the destruction it caused to their careers/family well being and finally ended by them getting into trouble with loansharks and eventually getting bankrupt....it's an evil disease
The American Psychiatric Association defines pathological gambling as having 5 or more of the following symptoms: Committing crimes to get money to gamble. Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit gambling. Gambling to escape problems or feelings of sadness or anxiety.
-@manwonder

I lived in the Gambling Capitol of the world . . . . Las Vegas

There are casinos that catered to Asians. . . . The Hotel California & Gold Coast. I had experience with a Thai & a Filipina women while single.

A female gambling addict living in Las Vegas earns her gambling money the same way as a crack, meth or heroin addict, but more subtle.

I had experiences with them.

(1) A Thai women named Suzy (married) was a blackjack at the Western Casino (now closed). I would meet friends on every Sunday and often gambled at her table. She was in her 50's and very attractive.

Suzy had a two hundred thousand USD inheritance from her son in Thailand which she lost playing Bingo. I saw the receipts, a large roll held together by a rubber band. My Honey Stopped when I would not play bingo anymore.

(2) A Filipina named Rose, who was married to a Filipino. I knew what he looked like, she had pointed him out to me. But unbeknown to me, he was another boyfriend but she did have a husband but not him. When I gambled at the Western Casino, I would not cash out, just take the chips home.

Rose would visit me from time to time, one morning I woke up, Rose was gone and so were my chips. I drove to the Western and found her and got most of my chips back. No more Honey for me.

(3) A Filipina named Vilma who was a friend of my wife. Originally she was from the provinces and knew what she wanted. Any American service man stationed at Clark AFB. She met an married and came to the US. At one time she was a blackjack dealer at the Circus Circus casino and had an affair with her boss which produced a son, I met the son when he was about 15 years old and called me Uncle.

As Vilma told me, they (husband) getting $6,000 USD for 20+ years service and a disability. She gambled it all away every month and would often ask my wife for loans. When he died she cashed out his life insurance for $50,000. Soon afterwards she was asking for loans again.

Then she won a brand new Toyota Camry in a casino drawing. She sold the Camry for $18,000 without ever driving it. Short time later again asking my wife for loans.

The last we've heard about Vilma, her own car was reposed and she was evicted from her rental home.

@Enzyte Bob

You've certainly lived. Those first-hand involvements with Asian women having gambling addictions in the US, literally decimating their own lives and families too, are graphic examples of the damage this addiction can do - as you say, like meth.

The closest I've come is seeing Las Vegas in the movies - the glitz, the partying, the hangovers, all dramatised (or perhaps not?). Once, I went into a casino on the Gold Coast in Australia, Conrad Jupiters at the time,. I stood watching a semicircle of Blackjack players and didn't know what to do, so I put $20.00 into a slot machine and left. I do know about bad gambling, however - I bought crypto.

One day I have a dream to go to Las Vegas, a bucket list thing. Honestly not sure whether it will ever happen, but I like the idea of redoing our marriage vows after a few drinks at 1am, with a tacky, overweight Elvis in a sequined jumpsuit. Analiza is against this of course, and thinks I lack romance (but I think I'll nail it! ) After that, I want to drive down to San Diego and take my son to Comicon, a superhero festival.

Funny, I come from a WASP family. I guess we were undersocialised in my little corner of the world growing up. After my divorce and all the confusion and pain that brought the family, I hadn't learned anything and decided to remarry. This time the plan was to marry a Filipina. My conservative mum, bless her, took me aside and cautioned me. She'd heard a story about a guy who married a Thai girl, "and lost everything, including his house" due to her gambling addiction... and thought this might happen to me. I'm pleased to report this hasn't happened yet, and my parents prefer Analiza to the other daughters-in-law. They like her more than me, I think.

@Enzyte Bob
You've certainly lived. Those first-hand involvements with Asian women having gambling addictions in the US, literally decimating their own lives and families too, are graphic examples of the damage this addiction can do - as you say, like meth.

The closest I've come is seeing Las Vegas in the movies - the glitz, the partying, the hangovers, all dramatised (or perhaps not?). Once, I went into a casino on the Gold Coast in Australia, Conrad Jupiters at the time,. I stood watching a semicircle of Blackjack players and didn't know what to do, so I put $20.00 into a slot machine and left. I do know about bad gambling, however - I bought crypto.

One day I have a dream to go to Las Vegas, a bucket list thing. Honestly not sure whether it will ever happen, but I like the idea of redoing our marriage vows after a few drinks at 1am, with a tacky, overweight Elvis in a sequined jumpsuit. Analiza is against this of course, and thinks I lack romance (but I think I'll nail it! ) After that, I want to drive down to San Diego and take my son to Comicon, a superhero festival.

Funny, I come from a WASP family. I guess we were undersocialised in my little corner of the world growing up. After my divorce and all the confusion and pain that brought the family, I hadn't learned anything and decided to remarry. This time the plan was to marry a Filipina. My conservative mum, bless her, took me aside and cautioned me. She'd heard a story about a guy who married a Thai girl, "and lost everything, including his house" due to her gambling addiction... and thought this might happen to me. I'm pleased to report this hasn't happened yet, and my parents prefer Analiza to the other daughters-in-law. They like her more than me, I think.
-@gsturdee

Rather than doing a few <Snips> of your post, I'll add a few comments. Behind that facade of the Las Vegas Strip, is a hard working population of 1.5 million people. The Las Vegas Strip has 8 of the 10 largest hotels within a mile of each other. #10 on the LV list has 3400+ rooms.

I got married for $99 including license, but no Elvis.

Although Las Vegas is hyped as Sin City, not really deserved because is brought in by over 800,000 visitors per Week. Looking for sin? A gentleman's club will pay $40 per person to the cab driver. There is so much money to be made, the strippers actually have to pay to work in the clubs. All over town you see hot women driving Beemers.

The sin is brought into Vegas with high expectations by single men, for most the only thing they get is a maxed out credit card. It's best to do your sinning at home, it's far Cheaper.

While Prostitution is legal in Nevada, it is not legal in Clark County (Las Vegas). It is legal in Pahrump Nevada, about an hour & 15 minute drive. Also certain casino bars have high end women free lancers, you want a 9+ or even a 10, be prepared to shell out $500 to $1,000.

Some casinos have a blind eye and look away, some do not.

Escorts are legal though, even delivered to your room.

What made Nevada a state: Nevada was always a territory, never having the population to become a state. Smart minds prevailed, they made everything that was illegal, Legal. Gambling, prostitution and divorces. Soon Nevada had enough people to become a state.

Now with the changes in the law, you can now go to a drive-in-window and buy Cannabis.

Ray Kroc would be proud.

It's best to do your sinning at home, it's far Cheaper.

-@Enzyte Bob

Yup....wise words again.

@Enzyte Bob

I knew I followed this blog for a reason...good education.

I read ""Fast Food Nation", and intrigued how Ray Kroc's model went viral around the world. 

If I do go to Vegas, I should leave my credit card at home.

@Enzyte Bob
I knew I followed this blog for a reason...good education.

I read ""Fast Food Nation", and intrigued how Ray Kroc's model went viral around the world.

If I do go to Vegas, I should leave my credit card at home.
-@gsturdee

If you do Vegas mate, I can watch you on TV back in the UK (PAWN STARS).

@Enzyte Bob
I knew I followed this blog for a reason...good education.

I read ""Fast Food Nation", and intrigued how Ray Kroc's model went viral around the world.

If I do go to Vegas, I should leave my credit card at home.
-@gsturdee

If you do Vegas mate, I can watch you on TV back in the UK (PAWN STARS).
-@Cherryann01

*********************************************************

I've been to Pawn Starts, most days when I drove by there was a queue to enter. When I had visitors all I had to do is drive past and they would look at the line and say forget it.

What you see on TV is partially staged, they record in the wee hours. They are never there during working hours.

Also all those restaurants with the big name chefs are there in name only. Write a big enough check, you can put their name on your Taco Food Truck.

@Enzyte Bob

There must be a fair number of fast food restaurants near the shop and Chumlee looks like he eats his fair share of junk food.

Time to make POGOs illegal amid rise in crimes linked to it – Pimentel

By: John Eric Mendoza - Reporter / INQINQUIRER.net / 02:03 AM September 18, 2022

See: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1666201/t … t-pimentel

MANILA, Philippines — It's time to make the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) illegal considering the increase of kidnappings linked to the industry, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said on Saturday.

“Prohibit it,” Pimentel said, speaking in Filipino, in an interview with AM radio station DWIZ.

“The situation is getting to be disturbing. “The Republic of the Philippines has been turned into a playground by foreigners who are undesirable visitors.”

“I am convinced that inviting POGO is detrimental to the Republic of the Philippines,” he went on.

“We already have problems with law and order just among ourselves. But now, with these foreigners, our problems with law and order have increased,” he added.

“Just among ourselves, the police can't solve all of those problems. Now their time will be taken up trying to solve crimes committed by foreigners in the Republic of the Philippines.”

“Let's return them to their country and let them fool each other there,” he said.

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin made a similar appeal in a statement she issued on Friday.

She said the Philippines should follow the lead of China and Cambodia, which had already banned industries similar to POGO — “because of the ill-effects it had brought.”

“The Philippines should learn from their experience,” she said.

On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, the national director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said the Philippines had turned into a hotbed for Chinese gangsters.

That was the result of Vietnam and Cambodia outlawing Chinese-backed online gambling and overseas casinos similar to POGOs.

Last Sept. 7, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it had only received 27 reports of kidnapping cases so far this year. Of these cases, 20 are linked to POGO, according to the PNP spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo.

--

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1666201/t … t-pimentel Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

<Snip from PalawOne news repost>

MANILA, Philippines — It's time to make the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) illegal considering the increase of kidnappings linked to the industry, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said on Saturday.

“Prohibit it,” Pimentel said, speaking in Filipino, in an interview with AM radio station DWIZ.
*************************************************************************

From my research in 2019 there were 62 Pogo's licensed in the Philippines paying P5.6 Billion in Taxes & Fees. I'm sure all Pogo's are not Chinese.

Now the real question why so many set up shop in the Philippines?

(1) Maybe it's easier to get licensed in the Philippines.

(2) Maybe the industry is less regulated.

(3) Maybe it's easier to launder money from other illegal enterprises.

(4) Maybe the Gaming Commission should be investigated.

(5) Don't follow the Money, follow the Grease.

Brick & Mortar Casinos are heavily regulated. It would make sense to only license Brick & Mortar Casinos for online betting.

Betting is more than table games or slot machines (pokies). In the states Sport Betting is Big.

From research there are 462 brick & mortar commercial casinos and 515 Tribal brick and mortar casinos in the US. So there is a casino close to everyone. All in all about 1,000 casinos putting Billions & Billions of gambling winnings in local & state economies.

In Pennsylvania all the states lotto profits are use for Seniors Citizens programs.

Last year the American Gaming Association estimated 4.3 Billion Dollars was bet on the Superbowl. 45 Million Americans can place legal bets in their home states.

Politicians clean up your act.

The Philippines have a problem with law and order, there is NONE. Any foreigner is not shown the curtsy under the law of equality and justice.

I think the Philippines need the revenue from gambling and casino businesses. Just look at Macau. The country needed the jobs it creates as well as the hard currency it brings. Unfortunately, it comes with challenges. Property prices went up in unimaginable ways (my perspective) and makes it not affordable to many locals. You heard of gentrification? I did.

Back to the OP's topic, I guess bringing gambling to the Philippines, underworld activities probably brought this atrocity along. Avoidable? Likely not, just stay away from it.

Jackson writes, "I think the Philippines need the revenue from gambling and casino businesses. Just look at Macau. The country needed the jobs it creates as well as the hard currency it brings. Unfortunately, it comes with challenges. (Though) I guess bringing gambling to the Philippines, underworld activities probably brought this atrocity along. Avoidable? Likely not, just stay away from it." -@Jackson4

`

Yes, but if handled properly and with class, Manila and the Philippines could well become an Asian gambling destination. The demand for classy, well-run casinos in the Asian region is certainly there. Done properly, with an appropriate government management and over-sight, as you say the revenue income could indeed become significant. Gambling and crime don't necessarily go together. It all depends upon ensuring strict, intelligent and careful government management and over-sight?

Jackson writes, "I think the Philippines need the revenue from gambling and casino businesses. Just look at Macau. The country needed the jobs it creates as well as the hard currency it brings. Unfortunately, it comes with challenges. (Though) I guess bringing gambling to the Philippines, underworld activities probably brought this atrocity along. Avoidable? Likely not, just stay away from it." -@Jackson4

`

Yes, but if handled properly and with class, Manila and the Philippines could well become an Asian gambling destination. The demand for classy, well-run casinos in the Asian region is certainly there. Done properly, with an appropriate government management and over-sight, as you say the revenue income could indeed become significant. Gambling and crime don't necessarily go together. It all depends upon ensuring strict, intelligent and careful government management and an over-sight?

Not sure Marcos can do it, but just banning gambling could get nasty very quickly?