Football is America’s sport, but now there are legal football betting options for both domestic and international leagues in the Philippines. It is the newest sport to hit the Philippine market and residents seem to enjoy it. There are multiple football betting options for residents through domestic and offshore destinations.
Whether you are a fan of the Philippine-American Football League, the NFL or another international football organization, you can find wagering options for each. This page has everything you need to know regarding legal football betting and also has information on how the sport successfully immigrated from the USA to the Philippines.
Top Rated Online Sportsbooks For Football Betting 2024
Filipinos have the privilege of being able to bet online through offshore Philippine legal online sports betting sites, but it is their responsibility to make sure they are betting with a legitimate source. Our team of online football betting experts has pinpointed the best available sportsbooks accepting Philippine residents.
We screen offshore betting outlets for governing regulatory bodies, licensing credentials, football betting line selections, wagering types, customer support options, security protocols for personal information, mobile/live betting capabilities, and bonuses. The table below is made up of all our recommended sportsbooks – each of which possesses the components listed above. If you would like to sample them for yourself, use the links provided in the table below.
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Age | Accepts Filipinos? | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ |  | Visit Site Review |
 | Up To 7 BTC | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 100% Max $500 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
Is It Legal To Bet On Football In The Philippines?
Yes. Philippine gambling laws permit betting on sports. Residents have several domestic options through PAGCOR, the governing body on gambling in the region. There are multiple brick-and-mortar operations as well as over-the-phone and (very) limited online services offered through MegaSportsWorld, a PAGCOR entity.
For residents looking to use offshore sites, it is legal to bet through these operations if the site is licensed and regulated. Whether you choose to bet through PAGCOR or through licensed offshore sites is completely up to you!
How To Bet On Football
When betting on NFL games or Philippine football, there are several things to look out for. Most sites allow you to make multiple wagers. The most common lines you will see are the point spread (pick a team to win or lose by a certain amount of points), moneyline (pick a winner outright) and the over/under (wager on the combined score total). NFL prop bets are another popular betting variety.
Props involve betting on an occurrence or non-occurrence in a given game. For example, you can wager on a specific player to have ‘x’ amount of rushing/passing yards. You can bet on how many penalties will be in a game, or whether or not the defense will score a touchdown. These are just a few examples of NFL prop wagers. Available wagering types will vary depending on the sportsbook you use. NFL Super Bowl betting is an especially popular gambling market since it is the pinnacle of the NFL season.
Early Traces Of Football In The Philippines
The Philippine Tackle Football League is the first instance of regulated football in the country. Originally called ArenaBall Philippines, the PTFL was founded in 2009 and ran for 6 seasons. There were a total of 8 teams in the league over the course of its span: the Bandits, Knights, Renegades, Wolves, Vanguards, Barracudas (Season 1), Juggernauts (Seasons 1-5) and Rebels (Seasons 2-5).
Most of the matches took place in the PhilSports Complex. The Bandits won the most titles with five before the league collapsed in 2015 and was succeeded by the Philippine American Football League, which is still in operation.
Philippine-American Football League
The Philippine-American Football League (PAFL) is the modern football league in the country. It emerged from the ashes of the Philippine Tackle Football League and officially kicked off in 2016. Five teams participated in the inaugural season: the Olongapo City Warriors, Manila Rough Riders, Manila Datus, Manila Wolfpack, and the Manila Outlaws.
As is the case with most other sports installations in the country, Manila is the concentration of PAFL activity. The Wolfpack won the first PAFL title, while the second season saw the addition of two more teams, the Wolves and Cavemen. The Wolves won that year and are the current reigning champions.
The PAFL league is run by Demosthenes Garcera Juanatas Jr. While still in its infancy stages, the PAFL looks poised to be more successful than its predecessor due to the sport getting more popular and the availability of more stadiums. PAFL representatives are optimistic that the league will continue to grow. Ideally, there will be more teams added to the league, meaning more venues and more betting opportunities for local fans.
Do Philippine Residents Follow The NFL?
Certainly! The NFL is the most popular football league in the world. The US-based league is making concerted efforts to increase the brand’s awareness through exhibition games in London and Mexico (with hopes of having franchises in those regions one day).
It is also possible that the NFL will begin hosting games in Asian countries like the Philippines. For now, residents can watch games online and place wagers through licensed offshore sportsbooks. To learn about other betting markets at those books, check out our legal gambling guides for basketball, soccer, boxing, and baseball betting in the Philippines.