NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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•22 SEP-6 P4:05
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1281
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Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
PROHIBITING ONLINE GAMBLING AND THE PLACING OF WAGERS 
OR BETS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR ANY FORM OF ONLINE 
GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The consequences of gambling and online gambling are too severe to be 
ignored. The cost of gambling is no longer limited to the loss of money, but extends to 
the loss of values and lives.
In October 2021, a 19-year-old student in Davao de Oro was arrested by the 
police after he was unable to pay more than P500,000 in bet money for online 
cockfighting or e-sabong.1 Other students have resorted to stealing from their parents 
to play, some of whom are minors.2 There is also a reported incident involving a 
Quezon city police officer who robbed an LBC branch in San Miguel, Bulacan.3 Earlier 
this year, thirty-four (34) persons were abducted because of their involvement in e- 
sabong.4
1 October 27, 2021. Student, 19, arrested after failing to pay P561-K for online sabong. Minadanao Times. Available at 
httDsV/mindanaotimes,com.ph/2021/10/27/student-19-arrested-atter-failing-to-pav-p561-k-for-online-sabong/ (date last accessed: August 
19, 2022).
2 November 16, 2021. Kandidatong pabor sa e-sabong huwag iboto - Bro Eddie. Abante tnt. Available at 
https://tnt.abante.com.ph/kandidatong-pabor-sa-e-sabong-luiwag-iboto-bro-eddie/ (date last accessed: August 19, 2022).
3 May 26, 2021. Huge debt due to online sabong prompts QC police to rob LBC branch in Bulacan. Manila Bulletin. Available at
https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/26/hiige-debt-due-to-online-sabong-prompts-qc-police-to-rob-lbc-branch-in-biilacan/ (date last accessed: 
August 19, 2022).
4 March 20, 2022. 15 charged over missing 34 e-sabong enthusiasts. The Manila Times. Available at
https://www. man ilatimes. net/2022/03/20/news/15-charged-over-missing-34-e-sabong-enthusiasts/l 836942 (date last accessed: August 
19, 2022).


These circumstances also show that the social cost of gambling is too high - 
bankruptcy, broken families, and criminal activities, among others. In the 2011 study 
at Baylor University in Texas,5 it was found that the social costs for each pathological 
gambler is $9,393 per year or almost half a million pesos if you combine the expenses 
to solve the crimes, adjudication, lost job productivity, unemployment insurance, 
therapy and treatment fees, suicide, social services costs, and others. Even the World 
Health Organization classify pathological gambling as a disease.
In fact, in the hearings of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and 
Human Resources Development in the 18th Congress, we discovered that the growth 
of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country has resulted in 
rising criminality, including prostitution, and increased threat of money laundering, 
among others.
In 2019, of the total 1,338 foreign nationals deported by the Bureau of 
Immigration (Bl), 733 are foreign fugitives (or 55%), most of whom are involved in 
POGO operations. POGO workers also appear to be involved in an increasing number 
of crimes. For example, in February 2020, all five Chinese suspects in a shooting 
incident in Bel-Air, Makati were found to be working in POGOs. In the same year, there 
were at least nine cases of POGO-related kidnappings and at least 10 raids of 
prostitution dens catering mostly to POGO workers.
On the other hand, the risk assessment conducted by the Anti-Money 
Laundering Council (AMLC) found that there is increasing level of threat of money 
laundering and other fraudulent activities associated with POGO operations. From 
2017 to 2019, a total of Php14 billion worth of suspicious activities in POGO 
establishments are found to be at risk of money laundering. In addition, there is a high 
number of unregulated and unsupervised service providers and there is low level of 
beneficial ownership identification.6
This 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.
Thus, the passage of this measure is immediately sought.
SENATOR JOjEL VILLANUEVA
5 The Hidden Social Costs of Gambling. The Gambling Culture at pp. 19-28. Available at 
https://www.bavlor.edu/content/services/document.php/145417.pdf (date last accessed: August 19, 2022).
6 Transcript of Stenographic Notes, at p. 124-25, February 11, 2020 Hearing, Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and 
Human Resources Development.


oC t!ji* *-
i ftan’
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. N0.1281
*22 SEP -6 P4 :05
RrCEiVtDBV
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
PROHIBITING ONLINE GAMBLING AND THE PLACING OF WAGERS 
OR BETS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR ANY FORM OF ONLINE 
GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Online 
Gambling Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote 
a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and 
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies 
that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising 
standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. It is also the policy of 
the State to guarantee the right of the workers to security of tenure, humane 
conditions of work, and a living wage. Towards this end, the State shall adopt 
measures to eliminate and prohibit all forms of online gambling activities as it 
undermines the value of an individual’s dignified work by allowing reckless and 
risky expenditures at the possibility of instant monetary gain which have led 
many Filipinos to experience dire financial situations.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms are hereby defined as follows:
a) Internet refers to an international computer network of inter­
operable packet switched data networks. It includes the electronic 
medium in which online communication takes place;


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b) 
Bet or Wager refers to taking or risking by any person of 
something of value upon the outcome of a contest of others, a 
sporting event, or a game subject to chance, upon an agreement 
or understanding that the person or another person will receive 
something of value in the event of a certain outcome;
c) 
Internet Gambling or Online Gambling refers to placing, 
receiving, or otherwise knowingly transmitting a bet or wager by 
any means which involves the use, in whole or in part, of the 
Internet.
SEC. 4. Prohibition on Online Gambling and Similar Acts. - Any 
person who shall place, receive, or otherwise knowingly transmit a bet or wager 
by any means which involves the use, in whole or in part, of the internet, shall 
be punished by an imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months 
or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00) nor 
more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhpSOO,000.00), at the discretion 
of the court.
If the offender is a corporation, partnership, or association, the maximum 
penalty of five (5) years and the fine of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(PhpSOO,000.00) shall be imposed upon the President, director/s, manager, or 
managing partner/s and/or responsible officer/s thereof.
If the offender is a public officer or employee, or if such public officer or 
employee promotes, encourages, aids or abets the promotion or conduct of 
online gambling, the maximum penalty prescribed for the offense shall be 
imposed. In addition, he/she shall be dismissed from the public service and 
shall suffer the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public 
office.
SEC. 5. Repeal of Authority to Regulate Online Gambling. - All 
general and special laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, 
which are interpreted to give legal authority to regulate any forms of online 
gambling are hereby repealed.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government and the Department of Justice, in consultation with the appropriate 
government agencies and other stakeholders, shall jointly promulgate the rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall 
remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, and 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,