BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Ways and Means is slated to conduct a follow-up consultation meeting involving around 20 callers and cockpit operators to delve deeper into complaints regarding online betting machines in local cockfight arenas.
Councilor Vladimir Gonzalez, who chairs the committee, confirmed that the upcoming meeting aims to gather additional information following initial complaints from llamadors or callers, who argue that their livelihoods are at risk due to the shift towards machine-operated betting systems within the cockpits.
Last week, Gonzalez oversaw a public hearing where the llamadors voiced concerns over the gradual loss of their traditional roles due to these onsite betting machines. According to them, these machines are leading patrons to bet at other venues in Negros Occidental, which have adopted similar technologies.
A representative from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) indicated during the hearing that the current machine-based betting system differs from previous online betting practices, where operators received a percentage of each betting round.
Despite concerns, Gonzalez noted that the operations are not illegal as per current regulations, describing the system as an onsite activity rather than offsite online betting.
“We haven’t found any illegality with the machine betting so far. The technology has made their operations more efficient,” Gonzalez explained.
The councilor emphasized the importance of understanding all perspectives before drafting a comprehensive report for the city council. The date for the next consultation meeting has yet to be scheduled as discussions continue to address the evolving dynamics of the local betting scene./PN
