The Philippines’ sports betting industry is popular and widespread. Not only is the Philippines a hub for international online gambling operators, but Philippine residents love to bet on sporting events. There are brick-and-mortar sports betting operations in the Philippines, but physical betting options are limited. The more common types of brick-and-mortar betting options are for cockfighting and horse racing, however, residents can place bets through a service called MegaSportsWorld. 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.

Sports betting isn’t new to Filipinos. They have been engaged in such activity since the sixteenth century. At that time, there were legal and illegal forms of gambling all over the place. Compared to today, sports betting is more organized.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation acts as a body that oversees gambling in the Philippines. They operate quite many casinos and are responsible for giving out licenses to both new and old operators.

Evelyn Balyton, an expert at Mightytips Philippines, shares with us her experience. You can check out her profile here. Interestingly, Filipinos are more interested in gambling today than they were some few years back. Indeed it has become a point of tourist attraction when integrated with resorts and hotels.

A Little History Lesson

It is known that gambling was around before the Spanish colonization. Before the Spanish arrived in the Philippines, betting was ongoing. However, no one knows when and where it was first practised. Indeed, there is a history of betting games known to the Philippines.

Also, some forms were brought in by the Chinese due to migration between both countries. Americans also played a role. During these migrations and trades, bets were becoming a thing during free time. Certainly, we can say for the fact that it started as cockfighting.

Cockfighting, which is also known as Sabong, has been associated with Filipinos. They also have legal and illegal matches. These activities marked the beginning of gambling in the Philippines. Today, it has evolved into a much attractive platform that includes an online platform.

In the Philippines, most bookmakers are registered under the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). This is the body that is responsible for guiding the affairs of bookmakers. They run casinos and also provide licenses for their operations.

PAGCOR is an influential body. Their activities have caused a great breakthrough in legalizing sports betting in the Philippines. Also, they have been able to curb the activities of fake websites and illegal sportsbooks. Filipinos can now engage in gambling without being afraid of a fraudulent website. This is indeed a big and significant breakthrough for online gambling.

Introducing Sports Betting

Sports betting has evolved continuously and consistently in the Philippines. Today, we have a more sophisticated platform to place bets. Punters can conveniently place bets from the comfort of their homes via mobile devices. There are also sportsbooks app that can be downloaded to bet on the go. Indeed, technology has changed the face of gambling in the Philippines.

Sports betting involves making a prediction about sports results followed by placing a bet on that particular outcome—punters whose predictions are right to get rewarded while those whose predictions are wrong to lose their stake. Indeed, sports betting is a serious business.

Ideally, sports betting has been a tool that has lifted many Filipinos out of poverty and set them on their journey to financial freedom.

How To Select A Sportsbook

There are lots of sportsbooks that are accessible by Filipinos. However, a sportsbook choice could be cumbersome if you don’t know what to look out for. There are features that a sportsbook should have before they can make your list. Here are some features we make use of when selecting a sportsbook.

• Bonuses and promotions
• Customer supports and care
• License
• Types of bets
• Payment methods
• Types of odds available
• Withdrawals and deposit limits

Sports Betting Philippines

All these features should be considered before selecting a sportsbook. To create a fantastic gaming experience, the choice of a sportsbook should not be taken lightly. A poor sportsbook would not give a gambler a memorable experience.

Top Sportsbook In The Philippines

As earlier mentioned, there are lots of sportsbooks out there. However, it’s a mixed combination of good and bad. Here, we have taken out time to sort out the good from the bad. Our list of top sportsbooks is matchless. We considered certain factors, and we watched out for consistency.

One of the most prominent sportsbooks in the Philippines is Betfair. Betfair offers you a 100% deposit bonus upon signing up. In addition to this, Betfair also offers you a $30 free bet bonus should you lose a bet of the same stake amount. Filipino punters are treated to a wide range of sports betting markets including football, F1, horse racing, tennis, UFC, esports and lots more.

The user interface is friendly and smooth, with a sliding tab displaying relevant information to new punters. Payment options abound with Betfair as users can make deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill and Neteller. The customer support can be reached via a live chat feature or email for prompt resolution of issues. The sportsbook is available both on mobile and desktop with a downloadable mobile application. As their name implies, Betfair issues punters a fair chance at winning with competitive odds and fast payouts.

Nearly 5 years ago, TNC Pro Team help put Philippine esports on the proverbial map with their Top 8 finish at Dota 2’s The International 2016. Since then, Philippine esports grew exponentially. Now in 2021, it has the full backing of the local government. Since 2017, the Philippine government pledged to help provide support for the growing local esports scene. At the same time, the country’s biggest telephone corporations, such as PLDT and Globe, hosted multiple national tournaments. If you want to give esports betting a try, you can check which are the best esports betting sites in the Philippines in the table below.

To say that esports betting in the Philippines is big is only fitting. There are multiple legitimate sites that are legal, regulated, and licensed. They are based offshore, they offer betting lines and support available local payment options.

Among the many esports titles, there are a couple that stand out among Filipino players. The aforementioned Dota 2 is arguably the most popular esports title in the Philippines. This is followed by CS:GO, League of Legends, and StarCraft 2.

Top Esports Betting Sites in the Philippines for 2021

Here’s the list of the best esports betting sites in the Philippines for Dota 2, Starcraft 2, LoL and CS:GO in 2021:

• Arcanebet
• 22Bet
• GG.BET
• Bet365
• BUFF.bet
• Betfair
• Pinnacle
• Unikrn

Is Esports Betting Legal in the Philippines?

When it comes to online betting, there are only two strict requirements. The first is that you have to be over 18 years old. The second is that the sportsbook has to be licensed and regulated offshore. The latter is especially important. Filipinos are not allowed to place bets on betting services regulated and licensed by the local Philippine government.

In general, however, Filipinos have little to worry about when it comes to online gambling. You just need to make sure that the betting company is based out of the country. Of course, they should be licensed and regulated as well. Not to mention, the majority of the laws and restrictions when it comes to betting in the Philippines mostly apply to the operators.

Best sportsbooks for Filipinos

Unfortunately, legality isn’t the biggest challenge with esports betting in the Philippines. Rather, it’s finding a sportsbook that caters to payment methods available in the country. Paypal and Bitcoin are growing in popularity. It’s easier to make deposits and withdrawals through them. Another common concern is finding a site that accepts bets from Filipinos. This is because many online sportsbooks also have local offices set up in the Philippines. To continue operating their businesses in the country, one of the requirements is to prevent Filipinos from signing up and placing bets.

The MegaSportsWorld (MSW) has been officially licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to offer betting lines for Filipinos. However, the lines offered are often incomplete and lacking. This is especially true when we’re talking about esports matches.

This is why offshore sportsbooks are your best choice for esports betting in the Philippines.

Deposit and Withdrawal Methods for Esports Betting in the Philippines

Esports betting sites in the Philippines are not only popular but also convenient. There are several payment options available that allow you to deposit Philippines peso (PHP). E-wallets, for example, are a great choice because they are fast for both deposit and withdrawal. You can choose between Neteller, Skrill, and Paypal. The downside, on the other hand, is that some welcome bonuses may be restricted.

Debit and credit cards are convenient as there are no bonus restrictions, plus they are secure. The options available are MasterCard, Maestro, and Visa. The downsides would be the deposit fee of 2.5% and the slow withdrawals. You have to wait for 2 to 5 banking days to receive your winnings.

Cryptocurrencies are highly popular because they are anonymous. The types of cryptocurrencies available are Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. However, this can be a tricky and complicated payment option for those who are not familiar with how they work.

How Popular Is Esports Betting in the Philippines?

Esports, and gaming, in general, are very popular in the country. The Philippines is part of the Southeast Asian region. It has since been considered as the fastest-growing esports audience across multiple titles for a few years now.

More importantly, the Philippines was considered to be one of the ideal markets to host esports tournaments. This is because of the quality and affordable infrastructure, as well as a particularly robust fanbase. Unfortunately, because of the current Philippine administration’s stance on the use of illegal drugs, many organizers have decided to look to other Southeast Asian countries.

Such an incident involved Valve. The American video game developers and creators of Dota 2 pulled their support from a Dota 2 Major initially scheduled for a January 2018 run. This is after teams expressed their concern for the country’s rulings regarding the use of illegal substances.

The Philippine esports scene

Still, despite the recent setbacks, the Philippine esports scene continues to thrive. The first franchise-based electronic esports league, “The Nationals”, was announced in mid-2018. It officially kicked off in August 2018. The “Road to the Nationals” served as an audition for interested players. The winning players were added to the pool.

The official franchised-league, The Nationals, kicked off later on with its inaugural season. This all culminated in the Cignal Ultra Warriors taking home the championship over the Suha-XCTN Punishers.

In addition to The Nationals, the Philippines was also chosen to host the 2019 SEA Games. This marks the first time that esports titles were included as a medal event in a multi-sport competition sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.

CS:GO Betting in Philippines

CS:GO is maybe one of the most popular games due to the impressive number of tournaments held annually. Besides the renowned International tournaments, Filipinos must not miss the local ones: eXTREMESLAND ZOWIE Asia, Shootout Invitational, Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit, Mineski Pro Gaming League, WASD Tarlac eSports League, and CS:GO Asia Championships.

Dota 2 Betting in Philippines

Another popular game on esports betting sites in the Philippines is DOTA 2. Besides the renowned tournaments like The Summit, ESL One, or the International, you can earn some extra cash by following the local ones. Make sure you place your bets on The Nationals, Philippine Pro Gaming League, Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit, Galaxy Battles, and MPGL Asian Championship.

LOL Betting in Philippines

League of Legends is a popular choice among esports betting fans because it can generate some pretty attractive revenues. There are tournaments, events, and matches happening all year round. PH gamers definitely need to focus on the huge international events, like, League of Legends Pro League, League of Legends Masters Series, or League of Legends World Championship. However, make sure you don’t miss the local tournaments: Philippine Pro Gaming League, LST Philippines National Qualifier, LST Philippines National Minor, and League of Legends SEA Tour.

Who Are the Top Players from the Philippines?

TNC Predator is considered the most notable all-Filipino organization in esports. The Philippine-based organization currently field competitive teams for both Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. Their Dota 2 squad, in particular, are two-time winners of the World Electronic Sports Games. This is an Olympic-style tournament organized by AliSports, the sports division of Chinese multinational conglomerate, Alibaba.

There are also multiple Filipino professional esports players that are making their marks across various titles.

Jake “Xmithie” Puchero of Team Liquid is widely considered as one of the best junglers in League of Legends. He has won multiple domestic titles, in addition to constantly qualifying for multiple iterations of the League of Legends World Championship, the equivalent of Dota 2’s The International for League of Legends.

The 20-year-old Gilbert “Xplosive” Rojo is also one of the Philippines’ most notable esports players. He currently plays for OpTic Gaming under their Gears of War division.

Euneil “Staz” Javiñas is another notable Filipino esports player. He is a professional Hearthstone player and took home the title at the WESG 2016.

GG.BET Philippines

Legal Sports Betting In Maryland

One of the most popular esports betting sites in the Philippines is GG.Bet. Here, you can find all your favorite esports, like DOTA 2, GS:GO, or LOL. A major plus of GG.BET Philippines is the fact that it accepts some of the most popular local deposit methods. Furthermore, you can enjoy some of the best betting odds available on the market. You can check out our GG.Bet review here and learn more about this sportsbook and all the benefits available to players.

FAQs

Are the DOTA 2 betting sites Philippines legit? It is very important to make sure you are aware of the legislation when you search for the best DOTA 2 betting sites Philippines. Or, you can keep it simple and check the table above, as we recommend the best sites for you.

Is LOL betting in the Philippines a good option?Just like CS:GO and DOTA 2, LOL Filipino players can find the best matches available, as long as they create an account on a reputable site. All reliable esports betting sites include League of Legends in their wagering offer.

Is it legal to bet real money on esports in the Philippines? Yes, it is, as long as you are 18+ years old.

Sports Betting Online Philippines

Which are the most popular esports in the Philippines?If you are looking for esports with daily betting lines, make sure you don’t miss: DOTA 2, LOL, CS:GO, Overwatch, Heroes of the storm, and Rocket League.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, with the support of the Philippine-government and the success of the 2019 SEA games, the Philippines will, once again, become a premier destination for esports titles. Until then, the country will have to rely on its professional players to try and carry the Philippine flag wherever they go and whenever they play.

As for the future of esports betting sites in the Philippines, it’s certainly looking good for those who are interested.

Msw Sports Betting Philippines

As the esports market continues to grow in the country, oddsmakers and sportsbooks will be interested to offer lines for Filipinos. This is good news as more options will result in better odds and payouts.

Sports Betting In Philippines

Either way, there’s no doubt that esports and esports betting has a big future in the tropical country.