Philippine Guide To Legally Betting On Martial Arts In 2024

The Philippines has become a hotbed for martial arts fighters in modern times. The island country has had a long line of good fighters in international competitions. Names like Pancho, Pacquiao, and Vera have popularized combat sports in the Philippines and influenced a new wave of Filipino fighters. Martial Arts has evolved from traditional fighting techniques such as Arnis, Taekwondo, Boxing, and more, to become what we know today as Mixed Martial Arts. This page was created to inform our readers about martial arts sports betting in the Philippines and the legal ways fans can bet on their favorite fighters.

Is It Legal To Bet On Martial Arts In The Philippines?

Yes, Filipinos can bet on any mixed martial art event and other sporting events as well. Philippine gambling laws lay out a few restrictions but nothing that would prevent anyone from betting with offshore sportsbooks. The only restrictions are that Filipinos must play with licensed sportsbooks to be legal.

Online gambling sites can accept bets on Philippine-based events, but no Philippine-based domestic sportsbooks can accept bets on domestic Philippine events. Below you will find a table that contains the top-rated offshore sportsbooks that will accept Filipino registrations.

Top-Rated Online Sportsbooks For Filipinos Betting On Mixed Martial Art Events In 2024

Site NameBonus OfferPayout SpeedPHPlay Link
Online Sportsbooks
Betonline50% Max $1,00024-48 HoursPlay Now
1XBit Casino and SportsbookUp To 7 BTCInstantPlay Now
Sports Betting50% Max $1,00048 HoursPlay Now
MyBookie Logo50% Max $1,00024-48 HoursPlay Now
Xbet Logo50% Max $50024-48 HoursPlay Now

Can I Bet On Martial Arts Matches Held Outside Of The Philippines?

Yes, Philippines residents can bet online or domestic sportsbooks such as MegaSportsWorld (MSW). MSW offers betting lines on boxing, MMA events, kickboxing, and more. That said, bettors are likely to find more options online with offshore sportsbooks and usually more favorable betting lines. Offshore sportsbooks also offer more ways to bet with live betting options, prop or future bets, and eSports.

What Are The Advantages Of Using An Online Sportsbook?

Online sportsbooks have several advantages over their domestic predecessors. While both sportsbooks offer up betting lines for Martial Arts fighting, online sportsbooks give bettors more for the money. These advantages give online sportsbooks an edge over brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and are often what attracts bettors to play online. Below is what our professional team feels is the biggest advantages for Filipino’s using an offshore sportsbook.

  • Mobility
  • Better Betting Lines
  • Philippine-based Events
  • More International events
  • Promotions
  • Bonuses

Are There Sportsbook Bonuses For Betting On MMA?

A bonus offer is an incentive that sportsbooks use to get bettors to play on their site. Bonuses typically include some sort of rebate or bankroll bonus that players can utilize when placing their online bets. Wagering options are usually tied to bonus offers so it is important to know what they are before signing up for any bonus option. Some of the sports related bonus offers you are likely to find online are: Welcome Bonus, Cryptocurrency Bonus, Reload Bonus, referral bonuses, reduced juice, seasonal promos and more. Players usually choose bonuses depending on available promotions or the deposit method they use to fund their account.

What Are The Most Popular Forms Of Martial Arts Practiced In The Philippines?

Today it would be Mixed Martial Arts or the MMA fighting style. Filipino fighters have been in the rankings for some time now and the popularity of MMA in America and other countries has catapulted the sport into new heights in the Philippines. Today you will find training facilities, specialty gyms, and occasional MMA related events in the Manila capital region and in the smaller regions of the Philippines. Arnis is still practiced among many as a self-defense tool and some Filipino MMA fighters practice it to add to their fighting style.

Is Arnis Still Practiced In The Philippines?

Yes, Arnis is a traditional fighting style that incorporates the use of hand weapons and hand to hand combat fighting skills, it is still practiced in the Philippines and in other parts of the world. Arnis is also known as Kali or Eskrima and is the current national sport of the Philippines. Arnis is a martial art that is believed to have origins that date back to the 15th century and was formed from other ancient martial art styles.

What Is Modern Arnis?

Modern Arnis is a Philippine fighting art that is a self-defense system developed by Remy Presas. It was created to offer an injury-free training method and an effective self-defense system. One of its primary focuses is to preserve the much older Arnis fighting style. Similar to Arnis, Modern Arnis focuses on stick fighting and hand to hand combat techniques.

Popular Filipino Fighters And Their Professional Record

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

  • Mark Munoz (14-6-0)
  • Brandon Vera (15-7-0)
  • Eduard Flaying (16-7-1)
  • Honorio Banario (18-6-0)
  • Mark Eddiva (13-6-0)

Boxing

  • Manny Pacquiao
  • Pancho Villa (91-8-4)
  • Flash Elorde (88-27-2)
  • Ben Villaflor (54-8-7)
  • Little Dado (45-4-9)

Do Online Sportsbooks Offer Any Other Services?

Yes, top-rated online sportsbooks are usually affiliated with closely linked racebooks, poker rooms, and an online casino. Account holders can easily play any of these options with their bankroll linked to their account information. This is generally offered to appease account holders and to give them the option of playing under one account.