While cockfighting itself is legal, betting on the matches is not.
But authorities largely ignore the punters who will place money on just about anything — from sporting events to whether rain will fall on a certain date.
Trainer Kim Kun says that these days it is the betting, with some wagers in the thousands of dollars, that is driving cockfighting.
"If we don't allow them to bet money, or we limit the amount of money they can gamble, they won't want to participate," he said.
Growing moral revulsion is also impacting the sport's popularity among a younger, and arguably more cosmopolitan generation.
"I fear seeing these cocks slashing each other, killing each other," says Thida, 28, who works with a non-government organization.
"We call ourselves Buddhist?" she asks, expressing shock at watching a televised fight.
But Seng Savorn dismisses concerns over the cruelty of cockfighting.
"We respect the roosters' rights, and if one bird wins, it becomes a hero.
"If you view (cockfighting) in a negative way it might seem like animal torture, but viewed positively it promotes the sport," he says.
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