The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched simultaneous enforcement operations targeting 11 cockpit arenas, part of an expanding nationwide drive to force unregulated gambling technology into compliance.

During the Aug. 8 raids, the BIR said revenue enforcement officers uncovered 297 unrecorded betting machines, computerized betting units, servers, and related electronic devices operating without the required Permit to Use (PTU).

BIR agents, supported by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), systematically sealed or confiscated the hardware in accordance with existing tax regulations.

The coordinated crackdown covered venues in Metro Manila and South Luzon following covert verification operations conducted by BIR Revenue Regions.

The crackdown comes amid growing scrutiny from tax authorities over computerized betting equipment in traditional venues.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza stressed that arena operators must strictly comply with official accounting standards.

“Betting transactions must be properly recorded, and the machines used for them must be properly registered with the BIR,” Mendoza said in a statement.

“We will continue checking cockpit operations nationwide and take appropriate action when we find violations,” he added.

The regulatory offensive has already triggered initial compliance measures from affected establishments. Following the raids, several venue operators initiated procedures to register previously off-the-books hardware while settling back taxes and accrued penalties to secure the unsealing or release of their equipment.

Concurrently, BIR auditors are reviewing machine log files and electronic transaction records to quantify historical betting volume and determine whether additional tax liabilities exist.

Mendoza confirmed that the enforcement campaign will broaden across the country. He directed all Revenue Regions and Revenue District Offices to map, audit, and verify every active arena operating within their jurisdictions.

The agency emphasized that its approach prioritizes voluntary compliance, offering technical assistance to venue operators seeking to rectify registration deficits before strict sanctions apply. Operators that fail to voluntarily update their registration status and settle outstanding liabilities will face formal administrative and enforcement proceedings.