Illegal online sabong or e-sabong continues to flourish on unregulated gambling platforms despite being banned nationwide. A new study has revealed that some operators are still organizing and promoting e-sabong through Facebook groups and private messages, even though it was banned in December 2022 by virtue of Executive Order 9.
According to researchers, unregulated sites lack consumer safeguards, making players more vulnerable to scams, excessive losses, and underage gambling. The study also found that illegal platforms have an average of 5,000 games—72% higher than the 2,900 games on regulated sites. Unlike licensed operators with strict testing and auditing, illegal sites lack verification and are more susceptible to manipulation.
Illegal sites also have weak know-your-customer protocols. While regulated platforms require a valid ID, age verification, and cross-check with an e-wallet, illegal platforms often only require a phone number or email. Several minors have admitted to being in debt, falling victim to scams, and receiving phishing messages after signing up.
In the payment system, there is a limit on transactions on regulated sites in compliance with anti-money laundering rules. On illegal platforms, there is no limit, so the risk of addiction and financial ruin is higher. Bonuses on illegal sites are also larger, reaching 108%, and affiliates' commissions can reach 65% of total revenue—higher than the 30% to 40% on regulated sites.
