Philippine tax authorities are currently pursuing Hongsheng Gaming Technology Ltd. for approximately 2.23 billion pesos, which equates to around $36.2 million, in unpaid taxes. This total encompasses corporate taxes, sales taxes, and withholding taxes.
Hongsheng previously operated an online gambling business that was licensed for offshore gaming. In 2024, local officials conducted a raid on the company’s facility located in Tarlac province due to suspicions of involvement in fraudulent activities.
Alice Go, a former mayor of Bamban City, known as the "mayor of online gambling," was among the owners of Hongsheng. Baofu Land Development owns the property where the company operated. Reports from local sources suggest that Go may have fled the area via a helicopter arranged by an individual named Guo, with her last confirmed location being Hong Kong in September 2024.
A recent audit by the tax agency uncovered that Hongsheng failed to pay about 2.2 billion pesos in taxes, leading to a criminal complaint being filed with the Department of Justice in the Philippines in early August. Notably, starting January 1, 2025, the Philippines will impose a complete ban on offshore gaming companies.
