More than 10 Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) employees and former bosses are getting dragged back to court to face charges for abuse of authority from an e-sabong agreement.
The lawsuit centers around a payment of PHP75 million (1.32 million USD) to the Philippine gambling regulator from Kamura Highlands Gaming and Holding Inc. The payment was for a license to operate e-sabong betting sites for online cockfight gambling.
The PAGCOR board members named in the accusation are Gabriel Claudio, Carmen Pedrosa, Reynaldo Concordia, and James Patrick Bondoc, according to media source Philstar.
The Philippine government eventually banned online cockfighting gambling after the restrictions of the pandemic were over. While e-sabong was legal for a short time, it was only intended to curb public attendance while COVID-19 ran rampant.
Do Online Sportsbooks Offer E-Sabong?
No reputable online sportsbook offers e-sabong; however, there are many other traditional casino games, sports betting options, and poker.
E-sabong falls under the sports category where other e-sports betting options live, but as we said, there isn’t enough online interest for sportsbooks to integrate that sport into their mix.
What Sports Can You Bet On With Online Sports Betting Sites?
Many sports accept wagers online, including football, basketball, baseball, Olympic-style events, horse racing, golf, video games, tennis, and much more. You can even find betting lines for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) when the conference tournaments are in season.
The most popular sports to bet on in the Philippines are American football, basketball (NBA, PBA), world soccer (FIFA, MLS), and horse racing. With tons of other sports and special events, there is undoubtedly something for everyone.
Is It Legal To Bet On Sports Online?
Yes, no laws forbid gambling online with offshore sports betting sites, online casinos, or poker rooms if they are licensed from a trusted gaming jurisdiction. Since most Philippine gambling laws were composed before the rise of online gambling, the federal government has left it up to local jurisdictions on what is allowed online.
There has been some controversy surrounding online gambling operators from the Philippines, as at least two cities have outlawed the practice in their borders. While this issue sounds confusing, the PH government only allows licensed operators to offer online gambling options to other countries, not the Philippines.
PAGCOR recently announced they would launch a state-of-the-art online 3-D casino under Casino Filipino, but no other details have been released.