Countries With Legal Cock Fight Bets in the World

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Posted: December 15, 2021

Updated: April 25, 2022

  • These are the countries with legal cock fight betting
  • The Philippines is the best place for cockfights
  • The sport is dying but tradition still holds unto it
  • Sad days for Puerto Rican cockfighting

Cockfighting is a very old bloodsport that goes back thousands of years. It involves specifically bred gamecocks fighting in an enclosed pit for entertainment and gambling purposes. Due to the controversies surrounding the sport, the list of countries with legal cock fight bets is pretty thin. In some countries there are exceptions to it, in other countries, it’s completely illegal.

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Cockfighting laws vary over the world. In some places, it is still very popular, whereas in others there are some regulations or it’s completely illegal. It is a bloodsport because it involves physical trauma or sometimes death. The modern form of the sport was discovered in the Philippines in 1521 where cockfighting is still popular today. In most places, the sport is banned as many people agree there’s something wrong with cockfighting. Laws about cockfighting and cock fight bets differ in each country. In this article, we’ll list where you can follow this sport and even place bets on it. The first three countries on the list all have rich histories regarding cockfighting. They’re not the only ones however where the sport is popular or even legal. In the Philippines, India and Indonesia cockfighting isn’t fully legal but has some exceptions regarding local culture and tradition.

The Philippines is The Best Country With Legal Cock Fight Bets

Cockfighting or sabong is a pretty popular sport in the country where both legal and illegal events happen on a usual basis. Every week there is a legally organized cockfight in a pit somewhere. There are also many illegal events in locations which the authorities cannot raid. Cockfighting in the Philippines involves the use of multiple types of knives. The owners can decide on the rules about involving knives. The Philippines is home to the World Slasher Cup which is also known as the Olympics of Cockfighting. The best breeders in the world gather at this event. Cockfighting has a long history in the country and is pretty much a favorite cultural pastime. The Philippines is one of the few countries with legal cock fight bets, but it’s also one of the best at that.

countries with legal cock fight bets
Picture Source: Pixabay

There is no nationwide ban on cockfighting in the Philippines but it is prohibited on December 30, a national holiday. We know cockfighting is legal but can you bet on the sport in the Philippines? The people of this beautiful country are avid sports fans, from basketball to boxing. Filipinos are one of the most supportive fans in the world and they’re present in all major sports. Online sportsbook sites in the Philippines feature a lot of NBA games but also occasional cockfights. Two companies have online sabong, Lucky 8 Starquest, and Belvedere Corp. As long as a company has a license to operate, online cockfighting will remain legal. 1xBET Sportsbook covers sabong live streaming events among many other sports and is available in the Philippines. Or if you’re in the country you can try asking any fowl owners if there are ongoing events nearby.

India and Indonesia Also Share a Bond With Cockfighting

Cockfighting is also an ancient sport in India, which dates back thousands of years. Currently, there is a nationwide ban on cockfighting in India since 1960. However, there are some exceptions to this. In 2012 local police allowed cockfights inside the temples at the Sun God Festival. Traditional cockfighting without the use of blades and betting is legal in India since 2018. Cockfights are also pretty common in the southern Indian states. It is a regional event that takes place in January, the same time as the harvest festival celebrations. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha have cockfighting events. Sankranti has events that can last for as long as three days, drawing thousands of people. India doesn’t make the list of countries with legal cock fight bets.

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Indonesia is also a country closely related to cockfighting history. There are ancient religious rituals involving roosters and spirits. The tabuh rah serves the purpose of providing an offering to the evil spirits. The offering is the blood of the losing chicken or rooster. Cockfights are very serious religious obligations at every temple in Bali. Fights that don’t have religious purposes are considered gambling in the country but they are still popular. Illegal cockfights in makeshift pits are regular but are vulnerable to police raids. Betting is also very common at these events. People in Indonesia, especially in Bali hold cockfighting in high regard as it’s part of tradition and culture. Online sports betting is illegal in Indonesia but there are many sites abroad accepting Indonesian players. We recommend checking out online sportsbooks in the Philippines.

Latin American Countries With Legal Cock Fights

This sport is also widely popular in Cuba and has many followers. There are both official arenas and illegal pits too. Gambling relating to cockfights is illegal. The legality of cockfighting has seen many ups and downs in Cuban history. The state organization has championships every year from January to April where they trade and sell fighting cocks to clients. Cockfighting in the Dominican Republic is legal but generally frowned upon according to some papers. There are many arenas in the country, from smaller pits to large coliseums. TV shows and newspapers sometimes feature bigger fights in the country. The use of special spurs is not uncommon and the public loves the sport. It’s just as regular as Football Sunday. Cockfighting is almost a national sport in Haiti and is completely legal. The use of spurs is also pretty common in fights.

countries with legal cock fight bets
Picture Source: Wikimedia Commons

Honduras allows both bullfighting shows and cockfights, while these are also considered a part of national folklore. In Mexico, there are some states where cockfighting is legal. These are Michoacán, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Sinaloa and the municipality of Ixmiquilpan. Musical shows, regional festivals, and fairs often come with Mexican cockfights. Panama has a ban on all kinds of sports or shows that involve the use of trained animals, except for horse racing and cockfighting. In Chile, cockfighting is legal along with rodeos, cow fights, and equestrian sports. Cockfighting is also a part of the tradition and is legal in the country of Colombia. Previous attempts tried to ban the sport but were unsuccessful. There is also a cockfighting championship in the country and the topic was the subject of novels and TV shows before. Peru is famous for its cockfights. The sport is an old tradition and is still popular today.

Europe and Asia Have Some Exceptions

There are some places in France where cockfighting is legal because of tradition. In a couple of towns in the Nord-Pas de Calais region, the sport is legal but the construction of new arenas isn’t. Cockfighting is also legal in some French overseas territories. Cockfighting is illegal in Spain except for the Canary Islands and Andalusia regions.

countries with legal cock fight bets
Picture Source: Flickr

The sport remains legal in these parts due to cultural heritage but it’s becoming less popular each year. The sport of cockfighting is popular in Pakistan but betting is illegal. Despite this fact, people still heavily participate in the bettings and police often ignore them. Many people keep fighting cocks and are proud of them. The Sindhi Aseel breed is a particular fan favorite.

The tough Situation in Puerto Rican culture

Cockfighting is a sport with more than 400 years of history in Puerto Rico. Even though the sport was federally outlawed in 1976, US Congress allowed it to continue under local laws. That was until 2018 when a new law was passed, overruling the local laws of Puerto Rico. Owners, businessmen, breeders, and supporters of the sport claim the law violates the First Amendment and that the case needs reviewing.

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Cockfighting in Puerto Rico is seen as a national sport that supports thousands of jobs and generates a large amount of annual revenue. On October 12, 2021, Congress ignored the case and left the ban intact. Puerto Ricans compared the cultural aspect of the sport to Kentucky horse racing or Texan rodeos for example. The future of cockfighting in Puerto Rico is unclear and nothing is certain yet.

The Best Choice From Any Country With Legal Cock Fight Bets

If you plan on betting on cockfighting we recommend the Philippines as that’s the best place for it. Make sure to use licensed websites like 1xBET Sportsbook. If you’re from any of the regions where cockfighting is legal check out if you have access to such websites. You can also check out online sportsbook news in the Philippines to stay on track with changes. Livestreams are also available for many people outside of the country. 

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