In many countries the old ‘sports’ such as cockfighting or bear baiting were outlawed many years ago. In the United States the aficionados of cockfighting are being squeezed into the two states where it is still allowed, Louisiana and New Mexico, and in the United Kingdom the proponents of fox hunting have finally lost their battle with the law. The Philippines have long had a tradition of cockfighting and as yet the pitting of two birds against one another with the aim of maiming one into submission or death has not caused a public outcry.

So popular are the contests that cockpits number around 1,700 throughout the Philippines and an Internet-based cockfight betting system is to be introduced. The state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will offer TeleSabong together with Philweb Corporation, a listed Internet gaming company, as its technical and marketing consultant. Betting will be on the traditional lines and revenues are expected to be in the region of US$I billion annually.

Backyard cockfights (tupada or pula puti - the choice of red or white) have flourished in the Philippines ever since becoming a feature of Catholic feast days. The public will now be able to place their bets on TeleSabong games at home or at one of PAGCOR’s 312 nationwide betting stations. In March 2004 Philweb was granted a licence to operate an online casino. TeleSabong, according to PAGCOR, should maximise the revenue generating potential of its online service. (E-03.03.05)

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