THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, is ready for the influx of applications for professional licenses starting next month.
Mitra said GAB is working double time to set up an online portal to accomodate the growing number of applicants for a pro license.
“The professional sports community is growing, and GAB welcomes all of them,” said Mitra in an interview with People’s Tonight.
“We are in the process of going fully online, especially with more athletes turning professional and applying for a license in the government regulatroy agency for pro sports,’ added Mitra, who was appointed by President Duterte as GAB chairman in 2016.
Mitra first brought up the plan to set up an online portal to accomodate more appplicants during the second Professional Sports Summit also held online last Dec. 5.
A three-time lawmaker from Palawan, Mitra said he expects a rush of applicants from the newly-established Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the country’s first-ever pro chess league; and the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), which also decided to turn pro.
GAB expects around 250 player-applicants from PCAP alone.
PCAP is scheduled to kick off with its First Conference on Jan.12.
Other applicants would come from the Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Football League, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, and National Basketball League and its affiliate Women’s National Basketball League.
Mitra said the highly-successful Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) is also expected to turn pro.
Also expected to apply for a pro license are boxers and mixed martial arts practitioners., as well as esports players.
“Esports player are classified as pros and should avail of licenses from the GAB when they compete locally or overseas.
“The year 2021 will be a very busy year for GAB. Hopefully, we will be fully online next year to make the application for pro licenses a lot easier,’’ said Mitra.
