BIR Flags Unregistered Cockpit Betting Machines in Manila and South Luzon
A similar raid was conducted in 2020 in Quezon City
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it flagged 297 betting machines and related electronic equipment during coordinated raids on 11 cockpit arenas in Metro Manila and South Luzon on Aug. 8, working with the National Bureau of Investigation.
The agency said the devices either lacked a required Permit to Use or were missing from its records, and were sealed or confiscated depending on the case.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza emphasised the expectations of the Bureau when it comes to machine regulation.
“Betting transactions must be properly recorded, and the machines used for them must be properly registered with the BIR.
“We will continue checking cockpit operations nationwide and take appropriate action when we find violations,” he added.
Compliance Pressure Rises
The BIR said some operators have since begun registering undeclared machines and paying penalties and taxes to secure release of the equipment, while officials review machine readings and transaction logs for possible additional liabilities.
The crackdown echoes earlier enforcement in 2020, when the agency also targeted unregistered cockpit betting systems in Metro Manila.
Mendoza added, “We are expanding these operations nationwide. I have directed all Revenue Regions and Revenue District Offices to identify and verify operational cockpit arenas in their areas.”
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) revealed that total GGR fell 26.64% year on year to PHP43.32 billion ($703.25 million) for the first six months of 2026, down from PHP59.05 billion a year earlier.
