GOGOJILI Philippines: Sabong Addiction and Where to Get Help
Sabong addiction is betting on cockfights beyond what you planned, chasing the next fight and borrowing to keep going.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| GOGOJILI Gambling Addiction Test | A gambling addiction test here is a set of eight yes-or-no questions drawn from PAGCOR's warning signs. |
| GOGOJILI Gambling and Family | A spouse, child or parent can apply to PAGCOR to have a person excluded by e-mailing the completed application and requirements to ResponsibleGaming@pagcor.ph. |
| GOGOJILI Loss Limit | Set a loss limit before you play: pick a peso amount you can afford to lose, write it down, split it by week, and stop the moment you reach it. |
| GOGOJILI Slot Addiction | Slot addiction grows on fast spins, small wins that return less than the stake and no natural stopping point. |
President Duterte’s spoken order of 3 May 2022 stopped online e-sabong across the country. Executive Order No. 9, signed by President Marcos on 28 December 2022, then formally prohibited it. Betting on cockfights in licensed cockpits (sabungan) continues under the Cockfighting Law of 1974 and local ordinances.
If your betting on the pit has grown beyond what you planned, the gambling help for Philippine bettors lists the lines to call.
Sabong addiction: what problem betting looks like
Sabong addiction shows up as a change in how you bet, not in how much you love the sport. The signs below follow PAGCOR’s warning signs, applied to the pit.
| Sign | How it looks at the cockpit | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Betting more than planned | Meron on the first fight, then a bigger bet on the next | Bring only the cash you set aside |
| Staying past the plan | One derby turns into the whole day | Leave after a fixed number of fights |
| Chasing a loss | Doubling the next bet to get back the last | Stop at the first chase and go home |
| Borrowing | Asking a companion or relative for a stake | Tell one person and call the NPGH |
| Money pressure | Bills wait while the cash goes to the pit | Move bill money out of your wallet |
| Family strain | Fights at home about where you were | Read the family page together |
Sabong terms are ordinary words at the pit: meron and wala are the two sides, and the sentensyador calls the bets. Knowing the language is not a problem; using it to explain another bet is a signal.
Why the pit makes limits hard to keep
Fights run one after another in a derby, so there is always a next bet and a friend willing to make one. For example, a bettor who sets aside 1,000 pesos and loses it by the fourth fight faces a room that keeps going without them. The crowd, the pintakasi and the sense of a sure thing push the plan aside.
Three rules make a plan survive the crowd:
- Take only the pesos you set aside, and leave your phone wallet at home.
- Choose your exit fight before you arrive.
- Do not borrow from a companion at the pit, ever.
Read what sabong is today in the Philippines for the terms, the licensing and the 2022 history behind them.
Where a Filipino bettor gets help
Three routes work for sabong: a helpline, a fellowship and the people at home. Bring the peso total you lost this month to any of them.
| Route | Contact |
|---|---|
| National Problem Gambling Helpline (NPGH) | 0919 170 0788, (02) 8248 9568, support@npgh.ph |
| Gamblers Anonymous Philippines | 0915 938 2808, www.gaphilippines.com |
| Gam-Anon Philippines, for relatives | www.gam-anonphilippines.org |
| PAGCOR family exclusion | ResponsibleGaming@pagcor.ph |
Online self-exclusion at www.osea.pagcor.ph covers online play, so for the pit itself your helpline call and your home team do the work.
Check yourself and bring your family in
Take the monthly gambling addiction test once a month and write the answers down. If two or more come back yes, call the NPGH the same day.
A spouse, child or parent does not need your permission to start. The gambling and family page explains PAGCOR’s family exclusion step by step.
FAQ
Is online sabong allowed in the Philippines now?
No. Online e-sabong was stopped nationwide in May 2022 and Executive Order No. 9 of 28 December 2022 formally prohibited it. Cockfighting in licensed cockpits continues under the Cockfighting Law of 1974 and local ordinances.
How do I know my sabong betting is a problem?
You bet more than planned, chase the next fight to win a loss back, or borrow to keep betting. Use the self-check questions and take your answers to a helpline.
Can my family help me stop betting on sabong?
Yes. A spouse, child or parent can apply to PAGCOR for family exclusion by e-mailing ResponsibleGaming@pagcor.ph, and Gam-Anon Philippines supports relatives.
Related guides
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| GOGOJILI Gambling Addiction Test | gambling addiction test |
| GOGOJILI Gambling and Family | gambling and family |
| GOGOJILI Loss Limit | loss limit |
| GOGOJILI Slot Addiction | slot addiction |