Group: E-sabong return should be professionalized, regulated (Sabong News)

The much-awaited return of e-sabong to the country will be professionalized and regulated to address concerns of the public regarding the negative impacts it has on society. This was what Gamefowl Affiliates of Pitmasters-Philippines (GAPP) Batangas President Fermin Solis has to say as he sees that this can be an industry with a big potential to grow further. Solis said that he understands that there are laws to follow and the online cockfighting community should also heed them for it to become a professional industry. “Lahat naman ng bagay ay tama na mayroon dapat regulasyon, sapagkat tayo ay pumapasailalim sa batas. At maganda na rin naman na bagaman marami ang nakikinabang sa industriya ng [e-sabong]… dapat mapatupad ang tamang regulasyon,” Solis said in a news conference with Pitmasters Live. He added that with the addition of modern technology, the e-sabong industry will further be regulated in modern ways. “Talagang nakatutulong ang modernong paraan [sa pag-unlad ng industriya ng e-sabong],” he added. Solis also said that with the professionalization of e-sabong, veterinaries, feed suppliers, and other stakeholders will have a sustainable economy and will provide a livelihood for others. GAPP Bulacan President Maw Acierto also said that e-sabong stakeholders and enthusiasts should have control of their spending as the game was initially designed to become a livelihood. He added that money should be used correctly and responsibly so the industry will be looked at in a different light from just regular gambling. “Lahat lang po sana ilagay lang sa tamang lugar, sa tamang kontrol. Sigurado naman táyong ang GAPP… ay patuloy na mag-i- improvise ’yan to continuously professionalize itong ating industriya,” Acierto said. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has been keen on setting-up an independent regulator for e-sabong as the industry saw skyrocketing numbers in income 2021 and early 2022. Part of the regulation that is being sought is its window operations and controlled staking in games. And with continued regulation, betting confidence and numbers are expected to go up. E-sabong generated around P640 million a month in early 2022. It generated a total of P2.03 billion in the first half of the year, according to Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Andrea Domingo.