Filipino gamers are recognized as athletes under the Philippine law. They have dominated the international eSports industry for several years now.

In 2015, the Philippine eSports Association (PeSPA) became the first official governing body of eSports in the Philippines. However in 2020, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) formally accredited the Philippine Electronic Sports Organization (PESO) as the official governing body of the industry.

The governing body ensures the safety of gamers from exploitation and other matters that involve due process. The association also helps Filipino gamers in visa-related concerns for competitions that will be held abroad.

In pursuit of better governance and provision for eSports, the Gaming and Amusements Board (GAB) filed Resolution No. 2017-21 or the “Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Electronic Sports (E-Sports) in the Philippines.”

The guidelines include:

• Professional eSports competitions in the country must have a permit to play which costs around Php 800 daily.
• Tournaments with Php 10,000 or more in prize-pools is considered a professional gaming event.
• Gamers must acquire a professional license to participate in tournaments. The licensing fees vary depending on the position held by the organizer. Fees range from Php 1,000 to Php 1,200.
• Gamers with licenses are subject to drug testing prior to playing in tournaments

The resolution received backlash for mandating license fees and game permits. International organizers expressed dismay on the guidelines but GAB clarified that they are open to compromise. These guidelines, however, are not strictly enforced.

At present, the pandemic has not stopped the waves of tournaments for eSports. Considering that it is done online, it is the perfect sport for this trying time.