Philipines Legal Online Sports Betting

Sportsbook gambling entertainment has evolved into an active, legally sanctioned form of gambling entertainment for Filipino residents. The growing market combined with advanced technology fosters multiple ways you can engage in legal sports betting in the Philippines. Here we will introduce you to online betting entertainment and the online, mobile, and live applications available to the modern-day sports fan.

We will also take an in-depth look and discuss how online betting sites offer bonuses and describe some commonly placed wagering options. Technology has changed a lot over the last few years and with it so has the gambling community. These types of betting sites are now more popular than ever and here we want to give you the best possible insight into how the games are being played across the nation.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In The Philippines

Yes, betting on sports and online sportsbooks are perfectly legal in the Philippines and do not violate any of the nation’s gambling laws. The Filipino government has officially stated that there are no laws forbidding players from betting at international online bookmakers as long as these destinations are legally licensed and regulated by a legitimate governing jurisdiction. This means that residents of this island nation can legally place bets at any of the licensed gambling sites listed in this guide. We go into more detail on our page dedicated to sports gambling laws in the Philippines.


Best Legally Licensed Online Sportsbooks That Accept All Philippine Players

Site NameCurrent BonusPayout SpeedAgePHPlay Now
Betonline50% Max $1,00024-48 Hours18+Play Now
Review
MyBookie Sportsbook Logo50% Max $1,00024-48 Hours21+Play now
Review
Sportsbetting.ag50% Max $1,00024-48 Hours18+Play now
Review
Xbet Sportsbook50% Max $50024-48 Hours21+Play now
Review

Is Domestic Sports Betting Legal In The Philippines?

Yes, sports betting is legal and regulated by multiple government agencies in the Philippines. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), regulates and issues licenses for all gambling entities in the country except for in the Cagayan Freeport Economic Zone. The Cagayan Freeport area has its own licensing and regulations they implement throughout their specific region.

MegaSportsWorld (MSW) is a sport betting enterprise boasting over 100 outlets spread throughout the islands that are regulated by the PAGCOR. MSW offers sports from across the world that you can legally bet on while living in or visiting the islands, and MSW online sports betting is also available in a limited fashion. You also have more brick-and-mortar betting options for horse racing and cockfighting, both of which are highly popular amongst the locals and governed by the Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB). Check out our review of MegaSportsWorld for a domestic vs offshore comparison resource for our Filipino players.

What Kind Of Sports Can I Legally Bet On?

You can legally bet on almost any sport while in the Philippines through legally sanctioned online bookmakers or one of the many brick-and-mortar bookmaker shops available. MegaSportsWorld locations offer an easy way to bet on domestic or international professional sports and since they are governed by PAGCOR it gives the player an additional sense of security. But MSW online betting is 21+ and quite limited in scope compared to many legal offshore Philippine sportsbook sites.

Domestic sports such as cockfighting or horse racing are held across the country in arenas filled with spectators and gamblers and they can draw particularly big crowds and produce big payouts.  The online brands recommended in this guide provide access to betting lines covering just about any sports you can think of, including those mentioned in the list above, including the popular legal Philippines horse race betting.

Popular Sports To Bet On In The Philippines

Basketball

Basketball is the number-one team sport in the Philippines, and outside of sabong, it’s considered to be the country’s national sport. The main professional basketball league in the Philippines is the Philippine Basketball Association, or PBA, which is divided into three popular conferences (the Philippine Cup, the Commissioner’s Cup, and the Governors’ Cup). Outside of the PBA (and legal PBA betting), the most popular basketball league for Filipino fans and punters is the American National Basketball Association, or NBA. All the best online PH sportsbooks offer PBA odds and NBA odds for every game of the season, as well as props, live betting lines, and futures.

Combat Sports

In recent years the rise in fame of Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao has exploded the popularity of combat sports in the Philippines and has produced an increase in combat sports bets at bookies and online across the region. He is the only 8 divisional world-champion in the history of boxing. It is approximated that he generated 1.2 billion in revenue from his 23 pay-per-view fights. According to Forbes, he was the second-highest-paid athlete in the world in 2015. Due in part to his popularity from boxing he was recently elected Senator for his country and will serve until 2022.

Arnis

Arnis is a martial art that utilizes weaponry and hand-to-hand combat as a self-defense system, also known as Eskrima or Kali. It has been the national sport of the Philippines since the Republic act # 9850 was signed into order in 2009, and since Arnis has been taught in high schools and colleges and is a part of the Filipino physical education system. The martial art is broadly accepted by military organizations across the world and implemented into their elite combat training.

American & Asian Sports

MegaSportsWorld venues are located throughout the region and offer many American and Asian sport betting options. Some of the most popular sports to gamble on are American Football, American Basketball, and Asian Basketball.

Cockfighting (Sabong)

Cockfighting, or better known throughout the islands as Sabong, is a part of Filipino history and culture that dates back further than Magellan (1521). Sabong has been a legal sport in the country since 1974 and is controlled by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). Most islands have a legal arena for the sport where people can go and enjoy the fights and place their bets. There are still many illegal cockfights throughout the region that are sometimes raided and seized by the Game and Amusements Board, mainly to fight illegal bookies and other illegal activities that they fund.

What Are Online Sportsbook Bonuses And How Do They Work?

Sportsbook bonuses are an effective method for attracting potential bettors and enticing current players to return. The two primary types of bonuses that you will usually see include the welcome bonus, (also known as a sign-up bonus), and the re-load bonus. There are often additional offers that include referral bonuses, bonuses for using specific Philippine sportsbook deposit and withdrawal methods, and seasonal promotions, among others.

Sign-up bonuses are offered to attract new customers. Premium online destinations often attempt to outdo each other when it comes to bonus offers to entice you to select them over the competition. Welcome bonuses are often structured as a match deposit bonus in which the sportsbook offers to match a specific percentage of your initial deposit.

You may see an offer that looks like this: 100% match up to $250. In this case, the sports betting site would be agreeing to match 100% of your initial deposit up to a maximum of $250. Sometimes welcome bonuses provide a free bet option that allows you to place a risk-free wager. All welcome bonuses include wagering requirements, so make sure you read the terms and conditions for the offer.

Reload bonuses provide bettors with incentives to come back to a sports betting site. Reload bonuses are there for when you reload your account, the numbers are never as high as an initial sing-up bonus, but they do put some of your losses back into your account to keep you playing. Some sites might offer you cashback incentives, these are straightforward, for every dollar you lose you get a certain percentage of that back into your bankroll.

Seasonal and special bonuses are typically tied to big events such as the Super Bowl, March Madness, or another popular sports game, match, or tournament. To learn more about current bonus offers and promotions at legal Filipino online sportsbooks, you can visit our page covering Philippine online sportsbook reviews.

Can I Use Philippines Pesos To Bet On Sports Online?

You can find a few online sportsbooks that will accept Pesos, but just as many limit their currency to more widely used platforms such as USD, Euro or the British Pound. Any of the legal online betting destinations that don’t accept the Pesos (PHP) will usually offer currency conversion options. Most Filipino’s also have the option of using an e-wallet that supports currency conversion as well.

What Kind Of Wagering Options Are Available Online?

Wagering online at legal Philippines offshore sportsbooks offers a variety of wagering options for betting on your favorite sports teams. Here are three specific methods and popular ways to bet online.

  • Money line Bets – is usually the most popular way to bet on hockey or baseball and is a wager on what team will win a game, not the points scored. Based off American odds, utilizes positive and negative money lines because teams are not usually equally matched.
  • Point Spread Bets – Most popular with football and basketball, a spread of + or – is given and at the end of the game is added or subtracted to a score.
  • Totals – Over/Under bets – Easiest to understand, this type of bet usually addresses how many points will be scored over or under and the resulted payout is comprised

Experienced players might have a better understanding of these wagering options, but new players shouldn’t be discouraged. Start slow and gain experience and knowledge, the key to winning is not always the better or worse team but how well the bet is played.

Do Philippines Online Sportsbooks Offer Live Betting?

Live betting is one of the more recent features added to the online betting experience. It is sometimes referred to as in-play betting as well. Live betting allows fans to place wagers throughout a game, match or event while it is in progress. Not every sport is supported by in-play betting options. You will find a variety of wagering types available for live bets, as well as access from your mobile device. The Philippines friendly online bookmakers listed in this guide offer live betting functionality for both pc/laptop or mobile access.

Can I Bet On Sports From My Mobile Phone?

The Philippines mobile sports betting apps that we recommend are web-based, mobile-optimized applications that utilize responsive technology to ensure cross-brand compatibility that also spans the most popular operating systems and major mobile networks; these mobile betting apps allow you to manage your account, deposit and withdraw funds, place bets, stream supported events, and enjoy live betting; most of the applications featured here do not require a download.

Resources For Filipino Gamblers

We encourage legal, responsible gambling and are providing links to these resources to assist anyone struggling with their involvement in gambling entertainment. These resources are specific to the Philippines region.

Official Website for Philippines Gamblers Anonymous 

Responsible Gaming Guidelines Of PAGCOR