Authorities in the Philippines apprehended 1,245 individuals presumed to have ties with the illicit e-Sabong gambling scene.
Philippine Police Crackdown on e-Sabong Continues
In recent updates, the Philippine News Agency has reported a mammoth police operation spanning from July 1, 2022, to August 15, 2023, that's netted over a thousand arrests. This operation forms part of the Philippines' ongoing efforts to quash the proliferation of e-sabong, online cockfighting, following its outlawing under the previous administration due to community reports linking the activity to kidnappings.
Despite e-sabong being banned, interest in the illegal gambling platform persisted. The arrests primarily involve individuals connected to the running and participating in these illicit gambling operations.
"Our relentless pursuit of denying illegal gambling establishments a foothold demonstrates our undying adherence to the rule of law," stated a police official.
The recent arrests highlight the police's dedication to protecting communities from the harmful influences of illegal gambling and the consequences that come with it. The timing of this crackdown on such activities coincides with several changes in the Philippines' gambling landscape.
The Changing Gambling Terrain in the Philippines
The Philippines' gaming regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), is on the verge of launching an online casino brand, Casino Filipino. The organization hopes that this venture will funnel extra revenue into the state's coffers.
Simultaneously, PAGCOR has been pursuing illegal offshore operators that have been operating sans the required licenses and have failed to pay their mandatory fees.
The Philippines also found itself linked to a US website hijacking incident involving a domain name related to the country's past, with the domain being acquired by a casino based outside of the Philippines.
Insights:
- After the suspension of e-sabong by President Bongbong Marcos in March 2025, there have been discussions about regulating or potentially banning online cockfighting activities.
- Prior to the suspension, e-sabong served as a revenue generator for PAGCOR, contributing approximately P400 million monthly. However, the suspension may impact these earnings.
- Calls have been made for e-sabong to be subjected to the same scrutiny as other gaming operations like POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations).
- PAGCOR previously legalized online sabong to bolster government revenues. However, the current suspension signals a reevaluation of these policies.
- Police and regulatory bodies have been intensively involved in monitoring and enforcing policies related to online gaming activities.
Since the suspension, the status of e-sabong in the Philippines is characterized by regulatory evaluation, with the potential for stricter oversight and legal changes moving forward.
- Despite the suspension of e-sabong, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is planning to launch a new online casino brand, Casino Filipino, as part of their efforts to bolster government revenues.
- The recent police crackdown on illegal gambling activities in the Philippines, such as e-sabong, has been an ongoing operation aimed at quashing the proliferation of these illicit activities and their harmful influences on communities.
- As the Philippines evaluates the status of e-sabong following its suspension, there have been calls for online cockfighting activities to be subjected to the same scrutiny as other gaming operations like POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations). Additionally, illegal offshore operators operating without the required licenses and mandatory fees have been pursued by regulatory bodies.
