Earnings from gambling and betting activities accounted for 72 percent of the total income that the arts, entertainment and recreation sector generated in 2016, the Philippine Statistics Agency recently reported.

At P186.7 billion, activities in the industry earned more than the activities in sports clubs, amusement and themed parks, concert and theatre halls, as well as other arts facilities.

In its 2016 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI), the statistics agency recorded 3,459 establishments in the economical sector engaged in arts, entertainment and recreation activities. A majority 38.1 percent of the total establishments were involved in gambling and betting activities.

Establishments for sports activities like sports clubs was at the end of the list, accounting for only 3.3 percent of the total percentage distribution of establishments.

Meanwhile, total employment for the arts, entertainment and recreation sector during the year reached 66,399, higher than the number of employment recorded in 2015 which was at 44,266, according to PSA’s 2015 data of the same sector’s ASPBI.

By industry, those employed in establishments involved in gambling and betting activities in 2016 accounted for 61 percent of the total distribution at 40,476 which is also higher than the 33,559 workers recorded to be employed in the same industry in 2015.

They also received the largest compensation, as by industry group. The average pay for employees in the gambling and betting industry amounted to P20.5 billion in 2015, increasing to P23.9 billion in 2016.

Meanwhile, in 2016 there were only 6,786 workers for recreation parks and beaches including beach facilities, or 10.2 percent of the total. Those working for other amusement and recreation activities followed with 5,375 employees, or 8.1 percent of the total.

According to PSA, employees involved in gambling and betting activities received the highest average annual compensation at P590,000 per employee, while those working for museum activities and preservation of historical sites and buildings only came in second, at P535,600 per employee.

In the whole sector, the statistics agency added that employees of concerts and opera or dance production were paid the least, averaging at only P10.8 thousand per employee annually.

But in terms of labor productivity, other amusement and recreation activities led the sector, generating P4.4 million per worker, while gambling and betting activities only generated half at P2.2 million per worker.

This was followed by museum activities and preservation of historical sites and buildings at P1.9 million per worker, and concerts and opera or dance production at P17.1 thousand per worker.

In total, the government allotted P562.1 million in subsidy to the sector in 2016, the amount distributed to the operation of concert and theatre halls and other arts facilities (P561.8 million), as well as the operation of recreation parks, beaches and beach facilities (P323 thousand).

The ASBPI only covers the formal sector of the economy, and was conducted nationwide in 2017, PSA stated.