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Is Sports Betting Legal in the Philippines?

Sports betting is only legal in certain situations in the Philippines. In the Cagayan region of the Philippines, online gambling is only authorized to foreigners but illegal for citizens.

In all other regions of the Philippines, online gambling is operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gambling Corporation (PAGCOR). However, citizens are not allowed to bet from their homes. Instead, they must go to PAGCOR-operated betting outlets across the country.

While that makes non-PAGCOR betting sites illegal to Filipinos, a ruling in 2012 by the Court of Appeals of the Philippines ruled that the Presidential Act that created PAGCOR does not ban foreign-based casinos or the ability of Philippine citizens to play at them. As such, many online sports betting sites now take bets from the Philippines.

What are Popular Sports to Bet on In the Philippines?

Filipinos are interested in a wide variety of sports, but their passion centers on basketball. The country has a rich history in the game, and there’s a lot of action on Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and NBA games from the United States. There’s also a lot of interest in national team games and tournaments such as the FIBA World Cup.

Football is also very popular in the Philippines with most of the focus on international leagues such as the English Premier League. There’s also a lot of action on major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup.

Other popular sports to bet on online include boxing, tennis, baseball, MMA and esports. Online sports betting in Philippines is now rather popular with a huge number of people. Try yourself too!

Do Bettors Have to Pay Taxes on their Winnings?

Bettors have to pay taxes on all winnings at sports betting sites. How much you pay depends on the amount you earn. Any prizes that are over PhP 10,000 are subject to a flat tax of 20 percent. The sportsbook typically withholds these taxes, but it is possible that an international sportsbook will not withhold them.

Otherwise, online sports betting earnings are supposed to be declared as ordinary income and reported at the end of the year. Depending on your tax situation, you will have to pay anywhere from five percent to 32 percent on your gambling earnings.

We recommend that you consult a tax accountant or tax lawyer for more information about online sports betting taxes.