PAGCOR directed to investigate any violation of its e-sabong licensees

Malacañang recently issued a memorandum ordering PAGCOR to conduct an investigation for any violation of its e-sabong licensees and to ensure their compliance with the security and surveillance requirements.

The memorandum, which was dated March 8, 2022, was issued in response to Senate Resolution No 996, urging PAGCOR to suspend the license to operate of “e-sabong” operators and to immediately stop all activities related to it until the cases of the missing sabungeros are resolved.

The memorandum orders the PNP and NBI to conduct a thorough on the disappearances and to submit their findings to the Office of the President and the Department of Justice within 30 days from the issuance of the order.

PAGCOR, on the other hand, is directed to conduct an investigation for any violation of its e-sabong licensees under their existing terms of agreement, and to ensure their compliance with the security and surveillance requirements under its Regulatory Framework for E-Sabong Off-Cockpit Betting Station, particularly the installation of CCTV systems in e-sabong gaming sites, among others.

The operations of e-sabong licensees, however, shall remain unaffected, pending the result of the investigations.

In February, the Senate proposed to issue a resolution, urging PAGCOR to to suspend the operations and existing e-sabong licenses of Belvedere Vista Corp., Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., Visayas Cockers Club Inc., Jade Entertainment And Gaming Technologies, Inc., Newin Cockers Alliance Gaming Corp., Philippine Cockfighting International Inc., and Golden Buzzer, Inc. Senator Francis Tolentino also proposed the temporary removal of e-sabong payment system from the GCash menu.