Seven licenced e-sabong operators had to lay off workers after the ban on operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Philippines.- It’s been reported that almost 3.2 million Filipino workers<\/strong> have been affected by the prohibition of e-sabong. A ban was imposed by then-president Rodrigo Duterte<\/a>\u00a0three months ago due to pressure from senators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Manila Standard has reported that, “aside from the employees of licensed e-sabong operators, many agricultural and blue-collar workers from businesses like commercial farm and backyard breeders, game fowl buyers, feed producers and veterinary services were also adversely affected by the ban.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report added: “Online betting stalls that hired workers during the popularity of the game have found themselves unemployed since May.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Ellaine Gorobao, human resources director at Lucky 8 Star Quest<\/a>, one of the seven eSabong operators that were licenced by PAGCOR, the company was forced to lay off 350 employees without 30 days’ notice due to the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Duterte issued the ban May and after receiving criticism for prioritising the economy over people. In March,\u00a023 senators<\/strong>\u00a0had signed\u00a0Resolution No. 996\u00a0<\/strong>calling for a suspension of e-sabong after\u00a031 people linked to the industry disappeared<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Police have since carried out operations to tackle illegal e-sabong operations and the\u00a0Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)\u00a0<\/strong>created a task force to monitor and coordinate enforcement action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At its peak, the e-sabong industry reportedly generated PHP650m a month for the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. (PAGCOR). Between January and March 15, 2022, the regulator raised at least PHP1.37bn from seven licenced e-sabong operators. It expects to lose as much as PHP5bn in revenue in 2022 due to the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PAGCOR has reported\u00a0an annual net income for the last year of PHP2.16bn (US$38.8m)<\/strong>, up 2,600 per cent\u00a0when compared to last year<\/a>. The regulator reported\u00a0income from gaming operations<\/strong>\u00a0of PHP24.72bn (US$443m), up 67.3 per cent year-on-year. Total income was PHP26.70bn, up 68.1 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n