Editing Cockfighting (section)

=== Cuba ===
In Cuba, cockfighting is legal and popular, although gambling on matches has been banned since the [[Cuban Revolution|1959 Revolution]].<ref>Nick Kirkpatrick, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2015/12/31/cockfighting-has-deep-roots-in-cuba/ Cockfighting has deep roots in Cuba], ''Washington Post'' (December 31, 2015).</ref><ref name="MarshMeneghini">Sarah Marsh & Alexandre Meneghini, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-cockfighting/cockfighting-in-cuba-clandestine-venues-state-arenas-idUSKBN17M1VF Cockfighting in Cuba: clandestine venues, state arenas], Reuters (April 20, 2017).</ref> The state has opened official arenas, locally known as "galleras", including a 1,000-seat venue in [[Ciego de Ávila]], but there are also banned underground cockfighting pits.<ref name="MarshMeneghini"/>

Cockfighting was so common following the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century that there were arenas in every urban and rural town. The first official known document about cockfighting in Cuba dates from 1737. It is a royal decree asking, to the governor of the island, a report about the inconveniences that might cause cockfights "with the people from land and sea" and asking for information about rentals of the games. The Spaniard [[Miguel Tacón y Rosique|Miguel Tacón]], Lieutenant General and governor of the colony, banned cockfighting by a decree dated on October 20, 1835, limiting these spectacles only to holidays.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 1844, a decree dictated by the Captain General of the island, [[Leopoldo O'Donnell]], forbade non-white people to attend these shows. During the second half of the 19th century, many authorizations were conceded for building arenas, until General [[Juan Rius Rivera]], then civilian governor in Havana, prohibited cockfighting by a decree of October 31, 1899, and later the Cuban governor, General [[Leonard Wood]], dictated the military order no. 165 prohibiting cockfights in the whole country from June 1, 1900.<ref name="pupo">Agustín Pupo Domenech, El Gallo Fino Cubano, 151 pp. Editorial SI-MAR, S.A., La Habana, Cuba 1995 ({{ISBN|9597054051}}).</ref>

In the first half of the 20th century, legality of cockfights suffered several ups and downs.<ref>Revista Carteles, September 2, 1956.</ref>

In 1909, the then-Cuban president [[José Miguel Gómez]], with the intention of gaining followers, allowed cockfights once again, and then regulations were agreed for the fights.<ref>Reglamento para las lidias de gallos, Ayuntamiento de Holguín, Cuba 1909</ref>

Up to the beginning of 1968, cockfights used to be held everywhere in the country, but with the purpose of stopping the bets, the arenas were closed and the fights forbidden by the authorities. In 1980, authorities legalized cockfights again and a state business organization was created with the participation of the private breeders, grouped in territories. Every year the state organization announces several national tournaments from January to April, makes trade shows and sells fighting cocks to clients from other Caribbean countries.<ref name="pupo" />