Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the online cockfighting ban put in place by previous President Rodrigo Duterte.
For a brief time during the Covid 19 lockdown, e-sabong betting in the Philippines was legalized to keep people away from the popular cockpits. President Duterte allowed the online activity, but after a swarm of bad publicity tied to online cockfighting, Duterte receded the legal status of e-sabong before he left office.
E-sabong Leads To More Crime
The Philippines can be dangerous if you are not careful, but when it comes to e-sabong, a few bad apples have ruined the whole bunch. Reports have linked multiple kidnappings to the e-sabong industry, most of which are still unresolved. There was even a woman who sold her baby to pay off her e-sabong bet of USD 860.
Some politicians want to ban all online gambling in the country but based on the yearly revenue it generates, that is highly unlikely. Local governments have recently launched their initiative to ban online gambling, but only Pasig City has passed a local online gambling ban.
Cockfighting in the Philippines
Cockfight has a long history, and the Philippines is one of the few places in the world that still allows the game to operate legally. The Philippines government earns revenue by offering licensing opportunities to cockpits; unlicensed cockfighting is illegal but still happens often. Betting on cockfighting is also legal and a thriving industry.
Bets are typically taken at the cockpit by a bookie who will keep track of all the bets for a cut of the pot. Bettors can make multiple bets but are responsible for all losses.
Legal Sports Betting In The Philippines
In the Philippines, there are multiple ways to bet on sports, including domestic sportsbooks and online sportsbooks operating from offshore. Domestic sportsbooks must abide by local gambling laws, whereas online sportsbooks have more freedom depending on which country they are licensed.
One of the main differences between domestic and online sportsbooks is their currency options. Online sportsbooks always accept more options to make depositing and withdrawing from your account faster and easier. We have yet to see a sportsbook or casino in the Philippines accepting cryptocurrencies. Still, as the popularity of digital currencies increases, we may see more options at domestic locations in the future.