MANILA – Online cockfighting, also known as e-sabong, brings in P400 million a month in revenues to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), according to the head of the gaming regulator Monday.
PAGCOR chairman and chief executive officer Andrea Domingo said that because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns and quarantine restrictions, online gambling has boomed, including e-sabong.
“It’s the online games now that are earning the money for the government,” Domingo told ANC.
She noted that there are currently four licensed online cockfighting operators in the country, with two more who have just been given their licenses.
Since May, the four licensed operators have pumped P1.6 billion into PAGCOR’s coffers.
The two e-sabong operators that have just been given licenses are expected to contribute at least another P150 million a month, as they are required to turn over P75 million a month to the government regardless of revenue, the PAGCOR chief added.
Gaming revenues have suffered amid the quarantine restrictions imposed to check the spread of COVID-19, Domingo admitted, but PAGCOR still managed to earn P20 billion as of July.
PAGCOR is on track to earn at least P38 billion this year.(ABS-CBN News)
