Cockfighting in the Philippines, traditionally known as sabong, has been a national pastime since before the islands were colonized by the Spanish in the 1500s. Today, Philippine legal online sports betting is widely available throughout the islands, and sabong betting is thriving.
In fact, the sport is so popular that the Philippines are home to the World Slasher Cup, which is a sabong derby commonly characterized as the “Olympics of Cockfighting.” While the sport is outlawed in many countries, sabong is unlikely to meet that fate in the Philippines, and legal cockpits bring in a good deal of gambling revenue for the government.
If you live in the Philippines and wish to wager on cockfights, regulated sabong pits are available throughout the country. However, many bettors want to wager on the sport over the Internet, which is something that is currently not offered by any domestic operator. Further, even though Filipinos have access to robust legal online gambling sites for all kinds of sports betting, the structure of sabong actually prevents most books from being able to offer it.
This isn’t a moral judgment, either. It is simply due to the fact that Sabong worldwide is an intimate sport where wagers are taken on-site, often by informal and unrecorded methods. There are other combat sports that are covered by our recommended Philippines friendly sportsbooks, such as forms of martial arts betting, boxing, and others.
Where To Bet On Sabong In The Philippines
The only place you can bet on sabong in the Philippines is at a local cockpit. These Sabong worldwide pits can be regulated, and if you want the best experience, this is obviously the route you should take. However, illegal cockpits are also commonly available, and matches are held every day all around the country.
While it is fairly safe to wager at illegal fights, we recommend that you stick to regulated contests. There is no dearth of these, and the risk of illegal sabong simply isn’t worth it.
Is Betting On Sabong Legal In The Philippines?
Yes, it is. The Philippine government has long regulated sabong in the country, and the agency in charge is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). However, sabong gambling is only allowed at regulated cockpits themselves, though underground sabong – called tupada or tigbakay – is a well-known part of the scene.
While the government discourages illegal cockfighting, clamping down on it hasn’t been a priority historically, so such black market fights are easily accessible nationwide.