Seeing the same, in the place where i live, government officials are also participating, especially those police who love this gambling. Gamblers are free to play since they are heavily protected.
Police professionals here in our country are not allowed to participate in any form of gambling, especially in gambling like cockfighting.
That was prohibited because it might lead to self-interest and abuse. It will lead to kicking on the service permanently.
You will never see police here playing that gambling game that's why as much as possible they are hiding their identities just to play this gambling game.
i think it only apply if the police officers are wearing uniform and are on duty but if not, they can participate in betting on cockfight arena. most of the time events like these happens far away from the police stations. we can only notice there is a cockfighting going on when tricycles cram in a remote cite.