The Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) publicly thanked the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and the police for their continuing campaign against illegal bookies still operating in Metro Manila, its chairman said in comments reported on February 7, 2022.
PHILRACOM chairman Aurelio "Reli" de Leon credited GAB, headed by chairman Abraham "Baham" Mitra, for helping the racing body in the crackdown. He also repeated the commission's call for the racing public to stop betting with illegal bookies, pointing to legal alternatives.
"Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa GAB at kay Chairman Baham Mitra sa patuloy nilang kampanya katulong ang ating pulisya para masawata ang mga illegal bookies"
"Patuloy din ang aming panawagan sa bayang karerista na huwag tumaya sa mga illegal bookies. Meron tayong mga OTBs (off-track-betting), pati na online or digital betting, na kung saan pati ang ating mga OFWs pati seamen ay nakatataya."
De Leon, appointed chairman of the horseracing body in 2020 and its 12th chairman, gave no figures for the number of illegal bookies found, arrests made or cases filed. No details of specific operations, locations or dates in Metro Manila were reported, and neither GAB nor the police were quoted directly in the account.
The remarks came during a wider briefing on PHILRACOM's plans, in which de Leon announced the first Philippine Racing Hall of Fame, a first in the 155 years since horseracing began in the country. More than 30 personalities had been nominated by racing associations, clubs and sectors representing jockeys, trainers and horse owners, with 33 nominees named and a screening committee to be formed to review the list. PHILRACOM plans 10 awardees in the first year, with the event to be held yearly.
De Leon also set out the schedule of major races for the year, with prize money in Philippine pesos:
| Race | Prize money | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Presidential Gold Cup | P10 million | Every December |
| Cojuangco Cup | P5 million | Every November |
| Triple Crown | P3.5 million per leg | May, June, July |
| Triple Cup | P2.5 million | February, March, May |
| Triple Cup for juvenile | P1.8 million | Not reported |
| Hopeful races (3-year-olds) | P1.5 million | Not reported |
| Silver Cup | P3 million | Not reported |
| Grand Derby | P3 million | Not reported |
| Lakambini | P2 million | Not reported |
| Sampaguita | P2 million | Not reported |
What it means for players
Betting with illegal bookies in Metro Manila remains the target of a joint campaign by GAB and the police, according to PHILRACOM. The commission's position is that legal channels exist for Filipino punters, including off-track betting (OTB) outlets and online or digital betting, and that overseas Filipino workers and seamen can also place bets through them. The account does not say what penalties illegal bookies or their customers face, whether any recent arrests were made, or how many illegal operations remain active. Anyone weighing where to bet in the Philippines can check what is licensed under Can I Gamble in the Philippines? and how the rules compare across the region in Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions.
What happens next
The exact date and venue of the Hall of Fame awarding ceremonies were to be finalized late the following month, according to de Leon.
PHILRACOM also plans to hold the first Philippine Horseracing and Breeding Expo, preferably at SM Mega Trade Hall in November or December, depending on the health situation, possibly alongside the Hall of Fame ceremonies. No further steps in the anti-illegal bookie campaign were announced.
Sources1 sources
- Alba, Cojuangco head Hall of Fame nominees - Journal News Online, journalnews.com.ph
