Despite a nationwide ban, online cockfighting or e-sabong continues to thrive illegally on unregulated gambling platforms, posing risks to players, a new study by Filipino-focused sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall showed.
The report, which examined the operations of both regulated and unregulated online gaming sites, found that illegal operators actively host and promote e-sabong events through platforms like Facebook, using dedicated groups and private messages to invite players.
“Our report shows that the operational differences between regulated and unregulated platforms do not just define how platforms function, but also shape the risks and potential harms players face, especially in unregulated spaces,” Fourth Wall Research Director John Brylle L. Bae said.
“The absence of safeguards highlights the urgent need for targeted enforcement and greater public awareness,” Bae added.
While some games require account registration, many remain openly advertised, signaling strong demand and the resilience of the underground market.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended e-sabong nationwide in December 2022 under Executive Order No. 9, prohibiting all online, remote, or off-cockpit betting on live cockfighting matches, as well as the livestreaming of such events outside official venues.
The issue resurfaced in July after a congressman was caught on camera watching a cockfighting livestream on his phone during President Marcos’s State of the Nation Address.
The study reviewed gambling platforms across areas such as game offerings, promotions, affiliate structures, payment channels, Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, trust and safety, and customer service.
Regulated operators examined include BingoPlus, PlayTime, CasinoPlus, ArenaPlus, Bet88, OKBet, and 747 Live, while unregulated ones include PHDream, PHFun, PH365, Betso88, 1xBet, Jili77, and OkeBet.
Key findings show that unregulated platforms host an average of 5,000 games, 72 percent more than the 2,900 offered by regulated sites.
Unlike PAGCOR-accredited operators, which must secure game approval and undergo third-party audits, unregulated sites launch games without verification, leaving players vulnerable to manipulated or fake content.
Regulated sites require government-issued IDs, age checks, and even cross-references with e-wallet details, while unregulated ones often need only a phone number or email. — The Malaya Business News Team
