Published
OnlineLegal & RegulatoryIndustry

Philippines Senator files bill to prohibit and penalise online gambling

The Philippines’ Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has filed a bill seeking to ban online gambling in the country. 

philippines senator story government gambling insider web image

Per Villanueva’s request, online gaming activities such as e-sabong (online cockfighting) and offshore gambling will be banned and penalised should people be caught either organising or participating in such activities online.  

The bill, titled the Anti-Online Gambling Act or Senate Bill 1281, has been introduced to counter what Villanueva claims are the "severe" consequences of gambling. 

Villaneuva cited examples of the so-called dangers of gambling, including the case of a 19-year-old student in Davao de Oro who was arrested for being unable to pay P500,000 ($8,681) in bet money. The young man lost the money while gambling on e-sabong. 

Villanueva said: "The bill seeks to prohibit online gambling and the placing of wagers or bets through the internet or any form of online gambling activities to prevent further deterioration of morals and values, encourage people to work instead of relying on a game of chance, stop addiction and save lives." 

"These circumstances also show that the social cost of gambling is too high — bankruptcy, broken families and criminal activities, [occur as a result].” 

Under the proposals submitted by the Senator, any person who places, receives, or transmits and bet or wager shall be imprisoned for a time between one and six months while facing of a fine of between P100,000 and P500,000.  

Villaneuva also claimed his bill would combat the growth of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have been illegally operating in the country’s online domain. 

Villaneuva added: "[The rise in POGOs] has resulted in rising criminality, including prostitution, and increased threat of money laundering, among others." 


Asia News Sponsor
Premium+ Connections
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

Digitain

 
 
Premium

RISK

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...