A study by local research firm The Fourth Wall has confirmed that online cockfighting, also known as e-sabong, continues to populate unregulated gambling platforms in the Philippines despite a nationwide ban.
As the country debates a proposed ban on all forms of online gambling given the explosive growth of the eGames sector post-COVID, the report highlighted the fact that such unregulated sites operate outside of the protections provided by a regulated industry and therefore continue to create significant risks for players.
It found that several unregulated gambling platforms continue to host e-sabong events and actively promote the game on platforms like Facebook through dedicated groups and private messages to invite players. The games are sometimes gated by account registration but remain openly promoted, indicating ongoing demand and the resilience of illegal operators.
That’s despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr having issued an Executive Order in December 2022 suspending e-sabong operations nationwide and halting all forms of online, remote or off-cockpit betting on live cockfighting matches, as well as the live-streaming of such events outside official venues.
“Our latest report demonstrates how prohibited games like e-sabong remain easily accessible on unregulated platforms even to high-profile figures, underscoring persistent enforcement challenges,” said John Brylle L. Bae, Research Director at The Fourth Wall.
The study also examined the offering of licensed online gambling platforms versus illegal platforms in the Philippines, finding that unregulated platforms offer an average of approximately 5,000 games – 72% more than regulated platforms, which offer around 2,900 games – because they do not need to secure PAGCOR approval.
“Our report shows that the operational differences between regulated and unregulated platforms do not just define how platforms function but also shape the risks and potential harms players face, especially in unregulated spaces,” said Bae.
“The absence of safeguards in unregulated platforms highlights the need for targeted enforcement and public awareness.”
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