A deeply rooted custom in the Philippines, cockfighting goes beyond mere chance in terms of betting. Although the strength of the fight would point to pure chance, experienced gamblers usually use calculated methods to raise their odds. Though keep in mind that ethical gambling is always first, knowing these subtleties can help you to make better informed bets.
Strategies For Betting on Philippine Cockfighting
Understanding the Fighters
Experienced bettors sometimes watch the pre-fight parade of the roosters before laying a bet. They search for clues of agility, aggression, and health. Although prior performance is not a perfect guide, a rooster with a consistent winning record (“llamado,” or favorite) could be a safer bet; the payment (“logro”) will be smaller. On the other hand, betting on the underdog (“dejado”) runs more risk but could pay possibly better rewards.
Appreciating Betting Odds
Odds are expressed in the cockpit using a special system of hand signals (“kristos”), which enable betting. Usually, fingers pointing upward show tens, horizontal fingers hundreds, and downward fingers thousands of pesos. Crucially, one must understand these signals and the related odds (e.g., “sampu-siyam,” or 10 to 9, suggesting the favorite pays 9 for every 10 staked). Seeing the volume of bets on every side can also help one understand the seeming power of every rooster.
Overall Thoughts
Although the excitement of cockfighting is mostly found in its erratic character, using observation techniques and knowledge of betting dynamics will help your approach to be more strategically oriented. Making better selections requires comprehensive evaluation of the roosters and interpretation of the chances. Remember, nevertheless, that cockfighting carries inherent dangers; so, betting should always be done sensibly and within your means.
