Games and Amusements Board

Lupon sa mga Laro at Libangan
Agency overview
Formed	1951 (1951)
Jurisdiction	Philippines
Headquarters	Makati, Metro Manila
Parent department	Office of the President of the Philippines
Website	gab.gov.ph

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) (Tagalog: Lupon sa mga Laro at Libangan)^[1] is the government-ran regulatory body of professional sports in the Philippines.^[2]

History

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:^[3]

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

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.^[3] 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.^[3]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

Leadership

GAB, as an organization, is headed by a chairman and two commissioners^[3]

• Chairman: Richard Santos Clarin
• Commissioner for Administrative and Finance: N/A
• Commissioner for Operations: Sherwin B. Bugarin ^[5]

Scope

Sports and activities

Professional sports and activities the GAB regulates include:

Sports

• Association football^[6]
• Basketball^[2]
• Billiards^[3]
• Bowling^[3]
• Boxing^[2] (including women's^[3])
• eSports^[7][8]
• Karate^[2]
• Mixed martial arts^[3]
• Table tennis^[3]
• Tennis^[3]
• Wrestling^[2]

Other activities

• Cockfighting^[2]
• horse racing betting^[2]

It is also mandated to crack down against illegal gambling practices in professional sports.^[2]

Leagues

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

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 despite some of the leagues' players still simultaneously playing in collegiate leagues.^[10]

Combat Sports Organizations

• Filipino Pro Wrestling
• Manila Wrestling Federation
• ONE Championship
• Underground Battle MMA
• Universal Reality Combat Championship
• Ultimate Muaythai Challenge Philippines