The government-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said it will seek stricter measures and regulations in case there is a move to re-allow online cockfighting, also known as “e-sabong.”
PAGCOR president Alejandro Tengco in a recent interview said while there is no existing recommendation for the lifting of the ban on e-sabong, there should be controls to prevent abuses.
“I will only recommend if there are structural changes. If there are no changes, then I would say no,” Tengco said. “I will await for the decision of the president. In my mind if that will reopen, if there is clamour to reopen we have to be very strict and come up with new measures.”
For instance, Tengco said e-sabong for should be allowed to operate for 24 hours a day.
To prevent minors from engaging in online cockfighting, Tengco said there should be tighter KYC (know-your-customer) system where in prospective players should will be required to submit and declare their basic information, recent photo, valid government ID, and other details.
He noted that e-sabong, which generated about P6.5 billion in revenues for the national government, would be a big source of revenues for the government.
In May 2022, then-President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the immediate end of online cockfighting operations citing the social damage caused by the gambling activity.
But despite the ban, Tengco said there are still illegal operators operating e-sabong.
Meanwhile, Tengco also reported that there are strong interests from international players to invest in casino in Clark and Boracay. PAGCOR however is still reviewing these proposals.
In 2023, PAGCOR generated record gross gaming revenues of P285.27 billion, up 11.2 percent from P256.49 billion a year ago boosted by strong contribution from strong contributions from integrated resorts and land-based casino.
For this year, it projects gross gaming revenues to reach P336.38 billion higher contribution from online gaming and e-casinos.