Philippine officials are investigating the disappearance of more than 20 people who took part in online cockfighting betting, according to a report published on March 13, 2022. The investigation has led to a proposal to suspend the activity until the cases are resolved1.
The disappearances are the most serious of several problems described around e-sabong, the online version of sabong, the country's traditional cockfight. A bishop of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines called online cockfighting "the most harmful thing the government has ever allowed," the report said. Investigators summoned Charlie "Atong" Ang, the head of the betting brand Pitmasters Live, over the missing bettors1.
Ang's operation is the near-monopoly in the business. His team streams fights through the night, averaging about 350 matches a day, with a minimum bet of 2 USD1. Of that daily amount, 95 percent goes to bettors as winnings and 5 percent to Pitmasters and its agents as commission. A further 135 million pesos is paid monthly as tax to state agencies, which the report said was used for Covid-19 response.
The report also described the personal cost. In the coastal town of Hagonoy, a man killed a neighbor who refused to lend him money to bet. Ang said his company has donated 800 million pesos to charity and argued that cockfighting offers bettors the best odds.
The report said the Philippines is the only country in the world that accepts online betting on cockfighting, and that the rise of the activity has unsettled traditional casinos. Resorts World Manila, owned by tycoon Andrew Tan, opened a cockfighting betting area inside its casino, and two other resort developers were planning similar moves1. The multi-day World Slasher Cup is held in the capital, Manila1.
What it means for players
Online cockfighting betting in the Philippines operates through webcasts, digital payment platforms and hundreds of agents who let players place bets and collect winnings1. The minimum stake reported is 2 USD, which keeps entry low for locals, expats and visitors with a Philippine payment method1. The investigation into the missing bettors, and the proposal to suspend the activity, mean the legal footing of e-sabong is unsettled. The report does not say whether any operator has stopped taking bets, whether payouts are affected, or how a suspension would treat money already staked. Those details have not been reported. For general rules on gambling in the country, see Can I Gamble in the Philippines?; for the wider regional picture, see Asian Gambling Games.
What happens next
Officials have summoned Ang as part of the investigation into the disappearances1. A proposal to suspend online cockfighting is on the table until the cases are resolved1. No date has been reported for a decision, and no outcome of the summons has been reported.
