Timeline: how e-sabong was banned
E-sabong was briefly regulated, then suspended in 2022, and it has stayed suspended since.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 3, 2022 | A nationwide suspension of e-sabong operations takes effect, after then-President Duterte approved the DILG's recommendation to stop it. |
| December 28, 2022 | President Marcos signs Executive Order No. 9, ordering the continued suspension of all e-sabong operations nationwide. |
| September 2024 | PAGCOR's chairman says there are no marching orders from the President to reopen e-sabong. |
| June 4, 2025 | The House of Representatives approves on final reading House Bill 11254, which would prohibit e-sabong and related activities by law. |
| February 2026 | At a Senate hearing, senators point out that e-sabong, "already illegal," still operates online, and press enforcement agencies on it. |
What EO 9 covers
EO 9 suspends e-sabong in all its forms, including "auxiliary" operations. Based on the text of the order, it covers:
- Live-streaming or broadcasting of live cockfights outside the cockpit or arena where the fight is held
- Online, remote or off-cockpit betting on live cockfights, wherever the betting platform is located
The order puts PAGCOR in charge of coordinating its implementation with local government units, with the DILG and the Philippine National Police helping act against violators. The order itself says the State has a duty to protect public health and morals, and the government linked e-sabong to social harm when it was issued.
The key point: EO 9 is a suspension, not a law passed by Congress. It stays in force until it is lifted or replaced. As far as we found, it has not been lifted.
Physical cockpits vs online sabong
Traditional sabong in a licensed cockpit is a separate thing, and EO 9 says it does not cover cockfights authorized or licensed under existing laws.
| Physical cockpit (sabungan) | Online sabong (e-sabong) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Allowed if licensed | Suspended nationwide since 2022 |
| Who licenses | The city or municipal council (sangguniang panlungsod or bayan) | Operations are suspended; PAGCOR coordinates enforcement of the suspension |
| Main rules | Cockfighting Law of 1974 (PD 449) and local ordinances | EO 9 (2022) |
Under the Local Government Code, city and municipal councils have the power to "authorize and license the establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits" and to regulate cockfighting. The older Cockfighting Law limits cockpits per city or municipality and the days when cockfights may be held, such as Sundays, legal holidays and local fiestas. Local rules can add more conditions, so the details vary from town to town.
The status in 2026
As of October 2026, online sabong is still not legal in the Philippines. We found no executive order, PAGCOR announcement or new law that lifts the EO 9 suspension.
That doesn't mean it's gone. In February 2026, a Senate hearing showed a live e-sabong stream still running online, and senators asked why enforcement agencies had not shut down the bigger operations. If you see an e-sabong site or stream today, that doesn't make it legal. It means it's operating outside the law.
What's still unclear
Some things we could not confirm, and we'd rather say so plainly:
- A permanent ban law. The House passed HB 11254 in June 2025, but we found no record that it was enacted into law. That Congress ended in mid-2025, so any version would need to be refiled and passed again, and we could not confirm the status of any refiled version.
- Future policy. Revival has been floated and rejected before. We can't predict whether the policy will change. If it does, we'll update this page with the official source.
- Local details. Cockpit rules depend on each LGU's ordinances, which we did not review one by one.
Why e-sabong sites are risky
Any site offering online sabong betting in the Philippines right now is operating in defiance of the EO 9 suspension. That means:
- There's no regulator you can turn to if you don't get paid or if you get scammed
- There's no guarantee of age checks, responsible gaming tools, or protection for your GCash or Maya details
- You could be taking part in an activity the government has ordered suspended
Before trusting any gaming site, run it through our PAGCOR license checker. And if betting is already causing stress, our responsible gaming tips explain the warning signs and where to get help.
Open 24/7. Free and confidential. Players and families can call.
This page is reviewed by Kassandra Marcos and follows the same sourcing standards we describe in how we test.
FAQ
Is online sabong legal in the Philippines in 2026?
No. E-sabong is still suspended nationwide under Executive Order No. 9, signed in December 2022, and we found no order or law that lifted it.
Is sabong legal at a cockpit?
Yes, if the cockpit is licensed. EO 9 doesn't cover traditional sabong authorized under existing law. City or municipal councils license cockpits.
Why are there still e-sabong sites online?
Because some operators are running outside the law. In February 2026, a Senate hearing showed an e-sabong stream still online. That doesn't mean it's legal.
Is there a law that permanently bans e-sabong yet?
The House passed House Bill 11254 in June 2025, but we found no record that it became law. For now, EO 9 is still the main basis for the suspension.
Sources
- Lawphil, Executive Order No. 09, s. 2022 (continued suspension of e-sabong; scope; exclusion of licensed traditional cockfights; May 3, 2022 suspension)
- GMA News, Marcos orders continued suspension of e-sabong ops, December 29, 2022
- Newsbytes.PH, Gov't has no plan to revive e-sabong, says Pagcor, September 12, 2024
- ABS-CBN News, House gives final nod to bills prohibiting e-sabong, June 4, 2025
- The Manila Times, 'E-sabong' continues, defying government ban, Senate probe finds, February 12, 2026
- Newsbytes.PH, Senators hit PNP, CICC on use of intel funds as e-sabong persists, February 16, 2026
- Lawphil, Presidential Decree No. 449 (Cockfighting Law of 1974)
- Lawphil, Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991), Sections 447 and 458
Kassandra Marcos is SugarFun's lead reviewer. She checks every site against PAGCOR's official list and writes our game and responsible gaming guides. How we test