Games and Amusements Board

Agency of the Philippine government

Not to be confused with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Games and Amusements BoardLupon sa mga Laro at Libangan

Agency overview
Formed| 1951 (1951)
Jurisdiction| Philippines
Headquarters| Makati, Metro Manila
Employees| 132 (2024)[1]
Agency executive|

* Francisco Rivera[2], Chairman

Parent department| Office of the President of the Philippines
Website| gab.gov.ph

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB; Filipino: Lupon sa mga Laro at Libangan)[3] is the government-run regulatory body of professional sports in the Philippines.[4]

## History

[edit]

The Games and Amusements Board initially started its operation in 1951 with the issuance of Executive Order No. 392. Through this particular law, the powers, duties and functions previously exercised, and performed by:[5]

1. The city and municipal mayors over fronton and basque pelota games
2. The Boxing and Wrestling Commission over boxing and wrestling
3. The Commission on Races over horse racing, were consolidated and transferred to the Board. [citation needed]

On March 20, 1974, upon the signing into law of Presidential Decree No. 420 creating the Philippine Racing Commission, the authority over horse racing was divided between the Board and the Philracom.[5] GAB retained the function of supervision and regulation of the betting aspect of horse racing, while all other functions related to horse racing were transferred to Philracom.

On January 6, 1976, the scope of GAB's regulatory function over professional sports widened as the agency was tasked to likewise supervise and regulate the professional basketball and other professional games in the country.[5]

The Board's regulatory function was also made more specific against anti-illegal gambling operations with the establishment of Anti-Illegal Gambling Unit (AIGU) on January 17, 1992 – which became one of GAB's units. AIGU initially was composed of personnel appointed by the Chairman of GAB and detailed staff from the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine Racing Commission, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, other offices involved in gambling operations, as well as other law enforcement agencies in the country. On December 28, 1993, the board assumed part of the overall functions of the Gamefowl Commission, particularly insofar as international cockfight derbies are concerned.[5]

In October 2020, GAB issued a joint order with the Philippine Sports Commission classifying any athlete who gets paid for non-national team play will be considered as professionals. Any sporting events which are conducted for profit were classified as professional in nature.[6]

## Leadership

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GAB, as an organization, is headed by a chairman and two commissioners[5]

* Chairman: Francisco J. Rivera
* Commissioner for Administrative and Finance: Angel P. Bautista
* Commissioner for Operations: Manuel S. Plaza III [7]

## Scope

[edit]

### Sports and activities

[edit]

Professional sports and activities the GAB regulates include:

Sports

* Association football
* Basketball[4]
* Billiards[5]
* Bowling[5]
* Boxing[4] (including women's[5])
* eSports[8][9]
* Karate[4]
* Mixed martial arts[5]
* Table tennis[5]
* Tennis[5]
* Wrestling[4]

Other activities

* Cockfighting[4]
* horse racing betting[4]

It is also mandated to crack down against illegal gambling practices in professional sports.[4]

### Leagues

[edit]

The following are the national and top-flight sports leagues that are sanctioned by the GAB.

Sanctioned leagues by the Games and Amusements Board  League  | Sport  | Gender  | Sanctioned since  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

AsiaBasket | Basketball | Men's | 2022 |
MPL Philippines | Esports | Men's | 2018 |
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League | Basketball | Men's | 2021 |
National Basketball League | Basketball | Men's | 2021 |
Philippine Basketball Association | Basketball | Men's | 1975 |
Philippines Football League | Association football | Men's | 2017 | [10]
Pilipinas Super League | Basketball | Men's | 2022 |
Premier Volleyball League | Volleyball | Women's | 2020 |
Professional Chess Association of the Philippines | Chess | Mixed | 2020 |
Sharks Billiards Association | Billiards | Men's | 2024 | [11]
The Nationals | Esports | Mixed | 2019 |
Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League | Basketball | Women's | 2025 |
Women's National Basketball League | Basketball | Women's | 2021 |
East Asia Super League | Basketball | Men's | 2020 | [12]
The Asian Tournament | Basketball | Men's | 2024 |

GAB considers leagues where participating athletes "play for pay" should be under its supervisions under its mandate. In November 2018, the GAB has announced plans to put leagues which meets this criterion under its supervision such as volleyball leagues, Spikers' Turf and Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association, and football league, PFF Women's League despite some of the leagues' players still simultaneously playing in collegiate leagues.[13]

### Combat Sports Organizations

[edit]

* Filipino Pro Wrestling
* ONE Championship
* Philippine Encuentro Championship
* PUSO Wrestling
* Underground Battle MMA
* Universal Reality Combat Championship
* Ultimate Muaythai Challenge Philippines
* Zeus Combat League

## See also

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* Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
* Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office

## References

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1. ^ "Staffing Summary Fiscal Year 2025" (PDF). Department of Budget and Management. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
2. ^ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (June 13, 2024). "Palace bares new PBBM appointees". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
3. ^ "Official Statement (June 30, 2023)". Games and Amusements Board. Facebook. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Games and Amusements Board". Games and Amusements Board. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Historical Background". Games and Amusements Board. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
6. ^ Navarro, June (October 23, 2020). "PVL, PSL, MPBL to discuss professional label with teams, lawyers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
7. ^ "Directory of Officials". Games and Amusement Board. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
8. ^ Sheldon, David (October 22, 2017). "Philippines Officially Recognizes eSports As A Real Sport". Casino Org. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
9. ^ Regalado, Pia (October 10, 2017). "The Philippines' new athletes: eSports gamers". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
10. ^ "GAB grants PFL professional license". Fox Sports Philippines. May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.[permanent dead link]
11. ^ Montejo, Mark Rey (May 7, 2024). "Sharks launches first-ever pro billiard league in PH". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
12. ^ Giongco, Mark (September 22, 2020). "EASL gets GAB backing for next year's home-and-away games". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
13. ^ "GAB Chairman warns commercial leagues". Manila Bulletin. November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Historical Background". Games and Amusements Board. Retrieved July 5, 2017.