In the Philippines, the thrill of games has always gone hand in hand with a wager. For decades, Filipinos flocked to lotto outlets, cockfighting arenas, and neighborhood card game tables to watch and bet on certain players or teams.
Filipinos’ penchant for wagering and seeking unpredictability ushered in the shift of the betting arena into the digital space.
For instance, recent Valorant patch notes and esports tournaments are sparking just as much excitement as a Grand Lotto draw.
Yet here’s the million-peso question: when Filipinos bet on esports, is it legal? If not, what does the law say about the nuances of online betting?
The Legal Groundwork: What Philippine Laws Acknowledge as Gambling
Therefore, what constitutes gambling, and when does betting on a certain game entail potentially illegal—or at least, morally gray—repercussions?
To understand esports betting in the Philippines, it is crucial to examine the legal linchpins of gambling regulation first, namely:
PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation)
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation was established under Presidential Decree 1869 and later expanded its scope of authority over the subsequent years.
Dubbed the ‘big boss’ of the Philippine gambling scene, PAGCOR holds the primary authority to license, regulate, and operate games of chance nationwide.
RA 9287 (2004)
Republic Act 9287 of 2004 focuses on penalizing illegal numbers games, such as jueteng and masiao. The law also cracks down on police officers and political figures protecting such illegitimate activities.
RA 9287 reinforces the idea that the state should monopolize and regulate gambling to protect citizens and generate funds for public projects. In turn, the law also safeguards public funds from misappropriation.
To date, this law doesn’t govern esports or digital casinos. However, its reinforcement sets the tone for castigating any gambling outside authorized systems or done via offshore sites.
RA 10927 (2017)
Republic Act 10927 of 2017 supplements the coverage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA; RA 9160). It underscores the government’s apprehension of casinos and other gambling dens as potential conduits for illicit money.
The law was passed after the 2016 Bangladesh bank heist, in which taxpayers’ money was stolen and funneled through Philippine casinos.
Under RA 10927, any single casino transaction worth at least Php 5 million should be reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Moreover, the law encompasses internet- and ship-based casinos, bolstering the recognition of the caveats of online gambling spaces.
The laws above enforce authority and order for all traditional casinos, eGames, and betting channels. So, how about eSports and strictly online platforms?
For now, they fall into a gray zone. Yet they open the doors for a safer and more regulated digital wagering landscape.
Esports Takes Center Stage: Valorant Champions 2025
The Valorant Champions 2025 tournament has cemented the Philippines as a serious esports hub. Filipino players stream in from Manila internet cafés and Baguio dorm rooms, cheering on both local and international squads.
With each new patch note update (such as the 11.06 release), the meta lineup changes, and bettors speculate on who will rise or fall in the rankings.
And therein lies the attraction for gamblers, as esports is unpredictable yet data-driven. For instance, a single change in weapon recoil or agent balance can flip an entire betting market overnight.
The Gray Area of Esports Betting
We now know that gambling is legal in the Philippines. Let’s dive into the gray area of esports betting and answer our previous question of whether it is fully legal or if it has more nuance.
For starters, there are a few legitimate, PAGCOR-licensed eGames establishments that offer esports betting facilities. And if they are available, they are heavily restricted and regulated.
Second, Valorant tournaments might be legitimate, but the betting channels aren’t. Many spectators use offshore sites to accommodate bets; in some way, this violates the law, as only PAGCOR-licensed entities can offer gambling legally.
But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Valorant esports gambling is the skin betting and loot boxes. Players could wager on skins and different Valorant betting markets, commodities with real-world monetary value.
Since these items don’t classify as illicit funds, they somehow bypass Philippine gambling laws. That said, international gambling regulators are flagging this as gambling.
PAGCOR and the Philippine gambling laws still need to keep up with the esports revolution. They’ll need to amend, repeal, or pass new regulations to uphold safe and legal betting for future esports.
Valorant Patch Notes Juxtaposed with Static Laws
Here’s the irony: Riot Games pushes out Valorant patch notes faster than lawmakers push out reforms.
One week, a gun’s stats change; next, a new agent drops. Meanwhile, Philippine gambling laws still fixate on slot machines and poker tables.
This mismatch creates a risky environment. Players adapt to every patch, and bettors respond to every meta-shift. But the law? It hasn’t moved in years.
Think of this risk like applying variations of Pusoy Dos rules to a digital battlefield. Some might work, but most online platforms stick to a standard set of rules, which could derail players’ tactics.
The Cultural Bridge: From Cards to Keyboards
Filipinos are no strangers to betting. For example, a tita (auntie) might wager small bills on tong-its during fiestas, while a kuya (big brother) places bets on basketball games.
Now, Filipinos still bet on games, albeit they have expanded to video games such as Dota 2 and Valorant.
On the downside, the regulatory mindset remains fixated on cockpits and casinos and has yet to oversee Twitch streams and Discord servers.
This dissonance creates a cultural disconnect—laws written for the past struggle to regulate the present.
And without transparent legal frameworks, esports betting exposes players and the esports space to multiple risks, such as
- Fraudulent sites that take bets and vanish afterward, therefore scamming bettors
- Unprotected minors accessing gambling platforms and other dangerous sites
- Money laundering by way of in-game currency or commodities and offshore betting.
- Illicit arrangements of matches could lead to unfair competition and tarnish esports and Philippine gaming culture altogether.
The Final Whistle: An Appeal to Balance
Esports is more than just a fad—it is a cultural revolution.
With Valorant at its heart, Filipinos are either players, spectators, or bettors. However, without a responsive legal structure, the risks cloak the excitement and anticipation.
Consequently, PAGCOR and Philippine gambling laws need to extend wisdom in enforcing regulations to encompass card games, online casinos, and frequent patch updates.
After all, clear standards set the stakes higher, making Valorant tournaments more exhilarating than ever.
