1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                 House Bill No. 3958
8 
9 
10 
Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
11 
12 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
13 
14 
Online gambling has rapidly emerged as one of the most insidious public health and 
15 
social challenges in the digital age. It threatens the moral fabric, economic stability, and 
16 
psychological well-being of Filipinos, particularly the youth and vulnerable sectors. 
17 
18 
Recent studies and reports confirm that online gambling addiction is a silent epidemic. 
19 
Individuals, including minors, have accumulated debts reaching hundreds of thousands 
20 
of pesos through unregulated betting platforms. The ease of access through mobile 
21 
phones, e-wallets, and social media promotions has made gambling a household 
22 
concern, infiltrating family spaces and normalizing risky behavior among the young. 
23 
24 
Like alcohol or drugs, gambling activates the brain’s reward system, fostering 
25 
dependency and compulsive behavior. It is a social disease that destabilizes households, 
26 
leads to financial ruin, and contributes to mental health crises, including depression and 
27 
suicide. 
28 
29 
While the gambling industry generates revenue, the social costs outweigh fiscal gains. 
30 
Family disintegration, indebtedness, crime, and addiction treatment are burdens borne 
31 
not just by individual households but by the State itself. It is thus incumbent upon the 
32 
legislature to establish a clear national policy of prohibition, protection, and prevention. 
33 
34 
The bill creates a comprehensive legal framework with the following key elements: 
35 
1. Total Prohibition of Online Gambling – All forms of online gambling
36 
targeting Filipinos, whether based in the Philippines or offshore, are declared
37 
illegal.
38 
2. Ban on Advertising and Promotion – All direct and indirect online
39 
gambling promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships are prohibited,
40 
particularly on digital platforms, schools, public spaces, and youth-oriented
41 
media.
42 
3. Access Control and KYC Safeguards – Strong identity verification, age
43 
restrictions (21+), and prevention of e-wallet integration with gambling platforms
44 
safeguard against underage participation and fraudulent access.
45 
August 26, 2025
8:00 am


4. Platform Accountability – ISPs, mobile networks, digital platforms, and ad
1 
tech companies are mandated to block, take down, or disable access to gambling
2 
sites, apps, and content within 72 hours of official orders.
3 
5. Financial Interdiction and Asset Forfeiture – The BSP and AMLC are
4 
empowered to freeze, block, and seize accounts, wallets, and digital assets linked
5 
to gambling transactions.
6 
6. Preventive and Protective Programs – The bill mandates information
7 
campaigns, curriculum integration on media and gambling literacy, rehabilitation
8 
services for gambling addiction, and community-based hotlines for affected
9 
families.
10 
7. Graduated Penalties – Offenders face deterrent penalties ranging from fines
11 
and imprisonment for individual players, to hefty sanctions and license
12 
revocation for operators, advertisers, and complicit digital platforms. Public
13 
officers who protect or tolerate online gambling face dismissal and perpetual
14 
disqualification.
15 
8. Transition and Repeal of Licenses – The measure repeals all existing laws
16 
and issuances that grant authority to regulate or license online gambling,
17 
including those under PAGCOR and special economic zones, and mandates the
18 
revocation of current licenses within six months.
19 
20 
This measure is anchored on the 1987 Constitution, which obligates the State to 
21 
protect the youth from harmful influences (Article II, Section 13), promote social justice 
22 
(Article II, Section 10), and ensure health, safety, and moral well-being (Article XIII). 
23 
24 
By adopting this bill, Congress takes a decisive step to shield Filipinos from the 
25 
destructive grip of online gambling. It does not merely prohibit—it also educates, 
26 
rehabilitates, and protects. It recognizes gambling not only as a moral and legal issue 
27 
but as a public health, national security, and economic justice concern. 
28 
29 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
30 
31 
32 
33 
REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
34 
35 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                 House Bill No. 3958
8 
9 
10 
Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
11 
12 
AN ACT PROHIBITING ONLINE GAMBLING FOR FILIPINOS, 
13 
REGULATING ADVERTISING AND ACCESS, PROVIDING 
14 
ENFORCEMENT AND PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS, DEFINING THE 
15 
ROLES OF COMPETENT AGENCIES, ESTABLISHING 
16 
ADMINISTRATIVE FORFEITURE PROCEDURES, AND FOR OTHER 
17 
PURPOSES 
18 
19 
SECTION 1. Short Title. 
20 
This Act shall be known as the “Comprehensive Anti-Online Gambling and 
21 
Protection Act of 2025.” 
22 
23 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
24 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to impose a total prohibition on online 
25 
gambling targeting Filipinos, whether domestic or offshore in origin. The State shall 
26 
eliminate access points, advertising channels, financial flows, and technological 
27 
loopholes that enable online gambling. The State shall likewise protect vulnerable 
28 
sectors, especially the youth, by instituting preventive education, public awareness, 
29 
treatment, and rehabilitation programs. The policy shall be pursued through the 
30 
joint action of national government agencies, local government units, and financial 
31 
regulators, with strict accountability for both public and private actors who enable or 
32 
tolerate online gambling activities. 
33 
34 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. 
35 
a) Online Gambling refers to the placing, receiving, transmitting, or facilitating of
36 
bets or wagers, in whole or in part, through internet-enabled platforms, including
37 
but not limited to online casinos, sports betting portals, electronic bingo,
38 
lotteries, and games of chance.
39 
b) Operator refers to any person, partnership, corporation, association, or foreign-
40 
based entity that manages, supplies, promotes, or profits from online gambling
41 
targeting Filipinos.
42 
c) Advertisement refers to any broadcast, print, outdoor, or digital content
43 
intended to promote online gambling, including endorsements, sponsorships,
44 
and subliminal promotions.
45 
46 


 
 
d) Internet Service Provider (ISP) refers to an entity licensed by the National 
1 
Telecommunications Commission to provide internet connectivity in the 
2 
Philippines. 
3 
 
4 
e) Digital Platform refers to any social media company, application store, e-
5 
commerce platform, hosting provider, or content delivery network that facilitates 
6 
the availability of applications and services. 
7 
 
8 
f) Electronic Wallet (E-wallet) refers to a digital payment system licensed by 
9 
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to store value and transfer funds electronically. 
10 
 
11 
g) Know Your Customer (KYC) refers to the identity and age-verification 
12 
process required by financial regulators before granting access to services. 
13 
 
14 
h) Young Individual refers to any person below twenty-one (21) years of age. 
15 
 
16 
SECTION 4. Institutional Roles. 
17 
a) The Department of Information and Communications Technology, referred to as 
18 
DICT, is the executive department responsible for national ICT policy and 
19 
coordination; under this Act, DICT shall chair the inter-agency effort, issue 
20 
technical blocking standards, and coordinate with global platforms.  
21 
b) The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, referred to as CICC, is 
22 
the inter-agency body attached to DICT tasked with cybercrime policy 
23 
harmonization and operational coordination; under this Act, CICC shall operate 
24 
the national cyber operations and blocking hub, manage the unified domain, IP, 
25 
app, and wallet blacklist, and run the national reporting portal and hotline.  
26 
c) The National Telecommunications Commission, referred to as NTC, is the 
27 
regulator of telecommunications and radio communications; under this Act, NTC 
28 
shall license and compel compliance of ISPs and carriers, issue and enforce 
29 
blocking and take-down compliance orders, and audit traffic-level 
30 
implementation.  
31 
d) The Department of Justice, referred to as DOJ, is the principal prosecutorial 
32 
department; under this Act, DOJ, through the National Prosecution Service, shall 
33 
designate specialized prosecutors for online gambling offenses, issue prosecution 
34 
guidelines for evidence sufficiency and plea standards, and coordinate mutual 
35 
legal assistance with foreign counterparts.  
36 
e) The National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Cybercrime Division, referred to as 
37 
NBI-ACCD, is the investigative arm for complex and syndicated cyber offenses; 
38 
under this Act, NBI-ACCD shall lead high-impact investigations into operator 
39 
networks, hosting chains, payment mules, and advertising syndicates.  
40 
f) The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, referred to as PNP-ACG, 
41 
is the police unit for cyber offenses; under this Act, PNP-ACG shall conduct field 
42 
operations, execute warrants, and operate the platform-liaison desk for rapid 
43 
preservation requests.  
44 
g) The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, referred to as BSP, is the central monetary 
45 
authority; under this Act, BSP shall regulate banks, e-money issuers, and 
46 


 
 
operators of payment systems for compliance with gambling interdiction, 
1 
including transaction screening and merchant category code suppression.  
2 
h) The Anti-Money Laundering Council, referred to as AMLC, is the financial 
3 
intelligence unit; under this Act, AMLC shall designate online gambling as a 
4 
predicate for money laundering, require suspicious transaction reporting 
5 
typologies, and freeze and forfeit proceeds.  
6 
i) The Securities and Exchange Commission, referred to as SEC, is the corporate 
7 
regulator; under this Act, SEC shall suspend or revoke corporate registrations of 
8 
violators, disqualify directors and officers, and pierce corporate veils used to 
9 
conceal gambling businesses.  
10 
j) The Department of Trade and Industry, referred to as DTI, is the consumer and 
11 
advertising regulator for deceptive practices; under this Act, DTI shall sanction 
12 
advertisers, agencies, and endorsers for unlawful gambling promotions and 
13 
deceptive claims.  
14 
k) The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, referred to as 
15 
MTRCB, regulates broadcast and motion pictures; under this Act, MTRCB shall 
16 
prohibit carriage of gambling promotions in broadcast and streaming linear feeds 
17 
under its jurisdiction.  
18 
l) The National Privacy Commission, referred to as NPC, regulates data privacy; 
19 
under this Act, NPC shall ensure that age-verification and KYC solutions are 
20 
privacy-protective and that data sharing for enforcement has a lawful basis and 
21 
safeguards.  
22 
m) The Department of Education, referred to as DepEd, shall integrate gambling 
23 
harm education and digital literacy into the basic education curriculum and 
24 
teacher training.  
25 
n) The Commission on Higher Education, referred to as CHED, shall encourage 
26 
higher education institutions to provide research, counseling, and campus-level 
27 
prevention programs.  
28 
o) The Department of Health, referred to as DOH, shall establish screening, 
29 
treatment, and referral pathways for gambling disorder, certify treatment 
30 
centers, and operate a 24/7 tele-mental health line for gambling harms.  
31 
p) The Department of Social Welfare and Development, referred to as DSWD, shall 
32 
provide case management, family counseling, and emergency assistance to 
33 
households affected by gambling debts and related harms.  
34 
q) The Department of the Interior and Local Government, referred to as DILG, shall 
35 
direct local government units to enforce site blocking at public access points, shut 
36 
down physical hubs or “KYC-for-rent” kiosks, and operate barangay-level referral 
37 
and awareness programs.  
38 
r) The Department of Foreign Affairs, referred to as DFA, shall pursue international 
39 
cooperation, including mutual legal assistance, liaison with foreign regulators, 
40 
and cross-border asset recovery.  
41 
s) The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, referred to as PAGCOR, is 
42 
a government-owned and controlled corporation previously empowered to 
43 
regulate certain gaming activities; under this Act, PAGCOR shall cease issuing or 
44 
recognizing any license or authority for online gambling, assist in inventorying 
45 
and winding down any residual online operations, and allocate specified funds to 
46 
prevention and treatment programs.  
47 


 
 
t) The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and 
1 
similar special economic zone authorities shall be bound by the national 
2 
prohibition and shall not license, host, or tolerate online gambling targeting 
3 
Filipinos. 
4 
 
5 
SECTION 5. Prohibited Acts. 
6 
a) All forms of online gambling that target or reach persons in the Philippines are 
7 
hereby prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, maintain, 
8 
provide, host, advertise, distribute, broker, white-label, franchise, aggregate, or 
9 
otherwise facilitate online gambling services or content that can be accessed by, 
10 
or is marketed to, persons in the Philippines.  
11 
b) It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to place, receive, transmit, or settle 
12 
any wager through electronic means while physically present in the Philippines or 
13 
while using payment instruments issued in the Philippines. The prohibition 
14 
applies irrespective of the location of servers, the domicile of the operator, the use 
15 
of virtual private networks, or other obfuscation techniques. 
16 
 
17 
SECTION 6. Advertising and Promotion Ban. 
18 
a) All forms of advertising, promotion, sponsorship, product placement, affiliate 
19 
marketing, referral codes, cash-back or bonus campaigns, and influencer 
20 
endorsements for online gambling are prohibited in broadcast, print, outdoor, 
21 
digital, in-app, in-game, and event settings.  
22 
b) Content that misrepresents odds, associates gambling with financial success or 
23 
social prestige, targets or appeals to minors through child-oriented imagery or 
24 
memes, or depicts gambling as a solution to hardship is prohibited.  
25 
c) The MTRCB shall ensure that broadcast and cinematic content are free of online 
26 
gambling promotions and shall sanction carriers that transmit proscribed 
27 
content. DTI shall adjudicate deceptive or unfair marketing acts related to 
28 
gambling content and impose administrative sanctions including fines and 
29 
business closures.  
30 
d) Platforms shall implement ad policy enforcement that blocks gambling creatives, 
31 
keywords, and advertiser accounts for the Philippines. 
32 
 
33 
SECTION 7. Access Controls and KYC. 
34 
a) Operators, platforms, and payment providers shall not create, maintain, or 
35 
enable any gambling account for any person. In order to prevent circumvention, 
36 
DICT and CICC shall issue the national age-gating and identity-assurance 
37 
standard for high-risk content; platforms shall deploy such standard to prevent 
38 
minors and adults alike from accessing gambling content, including search 
39 
queries and app listings.  
40 


 
 
b) BSP shall require all banks, card issuers, e-money issuers, and operators of 
1 
payment systems to enforce merchant category code suppression and negative 
2 
lists for gambling, to disable card-not-present and card-on-file transactions to 
3 
known gambling merchants, and to reject peer-to-peer transfers to tagged 
4 
wallets, with real-time interdiction and post-clear monitoring.  
5 
c) AMLC shall issue typology advisories for mule accounts, mixing services, and 
6 
foreign exchange channels used to settle gambling proceeds and require covered 
7 
persons to file suspicious transaction reports accordingly.  
8 
d) NPC shall ensure that any identity checks used to gate content are proportionate 
9 
and privacy-protective, and that data are retained only as strictly necessary. 
10 
 
11 
SECTION 8. Obligations of ISPs and Platforms. 
12 
a) ISPs and carriers shall implement network-level blocking of domains, 
13 
subdomains, IP addresses, DNS resolvers, and other network identifiers that 
14 
CICC and NTC place on the unified blacklist.  
15 
b) Hosting providers, content delivery networks, and domain registrars operating in 
16 
the Philippines shall disable resolution, hosting, or registration services to 
17 
domains and applications included in the blacklist.  
18 
c) App stores and software distribution platforms shall remove and geoblock 
19 
gambling applications, app listings, and updates within seventy-two hours of 
20 
service of an order issued by NTC upon recommendation of DICT and CICC.  
21 
d) Social media platforms and ad exchanges shall disable gambling advertiser 
22 
accounts and prevent delivery of gambling ads, boosters, and paid partnerships 
23 
in the Philippines. Platforms shall provide a direct enforcement API and secure 
24 
mailbox to receive and action takedown orders, and shall publish semiannual 
25 
transparency reports on gambling content enforcement in the Philippines. 
26 
 
27 
SECTION 8. National Task Force Against Online Gambling; Command and 
28 
Control. 
29 
a) There is hereby created the National Task Force Against Online Gambling, 
30 
hereafter NTF-AOG, chaired by the Secretary of DICT and co-chaired by the 
31 
Secretary of DOJ and the Governor of BSP.  
32 
b) Members shall include the heads of CICC, NTC, NBI, PNP, AMLC Secretariat, 
33 
SEC, DTI, MTRCB, NPC, DOH, DSWD, DepEd, CHED, DILG, DFA, PAGCOR, 
34 
and the heads of concerned economic zone authorities.  
35 
c) NTF-AOG shall adopt an annual National Operations Plan that sets blocking 
36 
priorities, financial interdiction targets, case build-ups, and public health 
37 
interventions; shall maintain a unified intelligence picture and case registry; shall 
38 
run quarterly joint operations weeks; and shall submit a semiannual public 
39 
report to Congress. 
40 
 
41 
SECTION 9. Investigations, Warrants, Digital Evidence, and International 
42 
Cooperation. 
43 


 
 
a) NBI-ACCD and PNP-ACG shall conduct proactive investigations using lawful 
1 
techniques, including undercover test-purchases, controlled transfers, and 
2 
forensic analysis of server images and devices.  
3 
b) Upon judicial authorization, they may compel log retention, subscriber 
4 
information, and traffic data preservation from service providers. DOJ shall 
5 
promulgate evidence chain-of-custody rules for digital evidence, minimum 
6 
metadata required for admissibility, and standards for expert testimony.  
7 
c) DFA and DOJ shall, upon request of NTF-AOG, initiate mutual legal assistance to 
8 
identify offshore beneficial owners, seize or repatriate assets, and de-platform 
9 
foreign operators that target Filipinos. SEC shall facilitate cross-border 
10 
cooperation through securities regulators’ networks for corporate transparency 
11 
and director disqualification. 
12 
 
13 
SECTION 10. Financial Interdiction; Freezing and Forfeiture. 
14 
a) BSP shall require real-time screening of account names, device fingerprints, 
15 
merchant descriptors, URLs, and MCCs against the unified blacklist, with 
16 
automated declines and holds.  
17 
b) AMLC may issue freeze orders ex parte over property and proceeds traceable to 
18 
online gambling and shall petition the proper court for civil forfeiture. Banks, 
19 
e-money issuers, and operators of payment systems shall implement 
20 
“know-your-merchant” reviews, terminate merchants engaged in gambling 
21 
services, and maintain audit trails sufficient to reconstruct transaction flows.  
22 
c) SEC shall bar natural persons who serve as nominee directors or incorporators 
23 
for gambling operators from serving as officers or directors in any corporation for 
24 
five years from conviction or administrative finding. 
25 
 
26 
SECTION 11. Offenses and Penalties. 
27 
a) Any person who participates as a player by placing, receiving, transmitting, or 
28 
settling a wager through electronic means shall suffer imprisonment of six (6) 
29 
months to two (2) years or a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos 
30 
(Php 500,000.00)  but not more than one million pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or 
31 
both, at the court’s discretion, without prejudice to mandated referral to 
32 
assessment for gambling disorder.  
33 
b) Any person who operates, maintains, supplies, hosts, distributes, brokers, or 
34 
otherwise facilitates online gambling shall suffer imprisonment of five (5) years 
35 
to twelve (12) years and a fine of not less than ten million pesos (Php 
36 
10,000,000.00). If the offender is a juridical person, the chairperson, president, 
37 
directors, trustees, partners, and responsible officers who consented to or 
38 
tolerated the act shall be liable in the same degree.  
39 
c) Any public officer who, by malfeasance or nonfeasance, promotes, protects, or 
40 
tolerates online gambling shall suffer the maximum penalty provided herein, 
41 
perpetual disqualification from public office, and forfeiture of retirement benefits 
42 
as may be allowed by law.  
43 
d) Any advertiser, agency, media company, athlete, artist, or influencer who directly 
44 
or indirectly promotes online gambling shall pay an administrative fine of five 
45 
million pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) to one hundred million pesos (Php 
46 


 
 
100,000,000.00), and, in the case of media or advertising firms, suspension or 
1 
revocation of business permits.  
2 
e) Any ISP, host, registrar, app store, or platform that fails to comply with a 
3 
blocking or takedown order within seventy-two hours without justifiable cause 
4 
shall be penalized by NTC with fines not less than ten million pesos (Php 
5 
10,000,000.00) per continuing day of violation and may be subjected to 
6 
suspension or revocation of licenses. 
7 
 
8 
SECTION 12. Corporate Veil; Piercing and Successor Liability. 
9 
a) Where an operator uses layered or foreign entities, nominee shareholders, or 
10 
trust arrangements to conceal control, courts shall pierce the corporate veil and 
11 
impose liability upon the beneficial owners and controlling persons.  
12 
b) Any successor, assignee, or transferee that continues substantially the same 
13 
business, assets, or brand of a sanctioned operator shall be deemed a 
14 
successor-in-interest and liable for outstanding penalties. 
15 
 
16 
SECTION 13. Administrative Forfeiture of Online Gambling Proceeds and 
17 
Instruments. 
18 
 
19 
a) Authority. – The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is hereby authorized to 
20 
issue freeze and forfeiture orders against money, property, equipment, digital assets, 
21 
accounts, and other instruments used in or derived from online gambling activities 
22 
prohibited under this Act. For purposes of administrative forfeiture, AMLC shall 
23 
exercise both investigatory and quasi-judicial powers subject to the procedures set 
24 
forth herein. 
25 
 
26 
b) Grounds. – Administrative forfeiture shall lie where there is prima facie evidence 
27 
that property or assets are: 
28 
1. Directly or indirectly derived from the proceeds of online gambling; 
29 
2. Used, intended, or attempted to be used as instruments in the commission of 
30 
online gambling; or 
31 
3. Owned, controlled, or possessed by any person or entity engaged in online 
32 
gambling operations in violation of this Act. 
33 
 
34 
c) Ex Parte Freeze Orders. – Upon finding reasonable grounds, the AMLC may issue 
35 
an ex parte freeze order for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days over the property 
36 
in question, effective immediately upon service to the bank, e-wallet, financial 
37 
intermediary, or custodian. Such freeze order shall not require prior court approval 
38 
but shall be subject to subsequent notice and contest procedures. 
39 
 
40 
d) Notice to Owner. – Within fifteen (15) days from issuance of the freeze order, the 
41 
AMLC shall notify the registered account holder or property owner through personal 
42 
service, registered mail, or electronic transmission. The notice shall include a 
43 
summary of the factual basis, the scope of the freeze, and the right to contest. 
44 
 
45 
e) Period to Contest. – The account holder or property owner shall have thirty (30) 
46 
days from receipt of notice to file a verified claim before the AMLC, supported by 
47 


 
 
documentary evidence, proving lawful origin or legitimate use of the assets. Failure 
1 
to file a claim within the period shall result in automatic administrative forfeiture. 
2 
 
3 
f) Summary Adjudication. – Where a verified claim is filed, the AMLC shall conduct 
4 
a summary adjudication within sixty (60) days. The claimant shall be heard and may 
5 
submit evidence, but proceedings shall be limited to the determination of lawful 
6 
origin. If the AMLC finds that the property is not proven to be lawfully acquired, it 
7 
shall issue a Resolution of Forfeiture declaring the property forfeited in favor of the 
8 
State. 
9 
 
10 
g) Referral to Judicial Forfeiture. – If complex issues of ownership or law are raised 
11 
that require full judicial proceedings, the AMLC shall, within fifteen (15) days, file 
12 
the case before the proper Regional Trial Court designated as a Special Anti-Money 
13 
Laundering Court. 
14 
 
15 
h) Effect of Administrative Forfeiture. – Forfeiture declared final by AMLC shall vest 
16 
ownership in the State, free from any encumbrance. Banks, e-wallet providers, and 
17 
custodians shall be discharged of liability upon transfer of assets to the National 
18 
Treasury. 
19 
 
20 
i) Disposition of Assets. – All administratively forfeited assets shall be allocated as 
21 
follows: 
22 
1. Fifty percent (50%) to the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of 
23 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for treatment, rehabilitation, and 
24 
social protection programs for gambling addiction; 
25 
2. Thirty percent (30%) to the Department of Information and Communications 
26 
Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center 
27 
(CICC) for enforcement technology, blocking operations, and cyber 
28 
investigations; and 
29 
3. Twenty percent (20%) to the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission 
30 
on Higher Education (CHED) for gambling prevention, media literacy, and 
31 
research programs. 
32 
 
33 
j) Appeal. – Any Resolution of Forfeiture by the AMLC may be appealed to the Court 
34 
of Appeals within fifteen (15) days from receipt, which shall decide the matter on the 
35 
record and without need of oral arguments, unless otherwise necessary. 
36 
 
37 
k) Immunity of Custodians. – No financial institution, custodian, or intermediary 
38 
that complies in good faith with an AMLC freeze or forfeiture order shall incur 
39 
criminal, civil, or administrative liability for such compliance. 
40 
 
41 
SECTION 14. Transition; Termination of Licenses and Authorities. 
42 
a) Within thirty days from effectivity, PAGCOR and all economic zone authorities 
43 
shall publish an inventory of any online operations, licenses, or authorities 
44 
previously issued or recognized.  
45 
b) Within one hundred eighty days, all such online authorities shall be terminated 
46 
and all operations wound down. Any continued online operation thereafter shall 
47 


 
 
be deemed willful and subject to the maximum penalties under this Act. PAGCOR 
1 
shall reprogram not less than two percent of its gross revenues to DOH and 
2 
DSWD for treatment and social protection measures under this Act. 
3 
 
4 
SECTION 15. Prevention, Education, Treatment, and Social Protection. 
5 
 
6 
a) DepEd shall, within one school year, integrate gambling harm awareness, 
7 
probability and risk literacy, and digital media literacy into age-appropriate 
8 
lessons and teacher development modules.  
9 
b) CHED shall encourage higher education institutions to establish campus 
10 
counseling services for gambling disorder and to conduct peer-reviewed research 
11 
on prevention and treatment.  
12 
c) DOH shall publish clinical practice guidelines for gambling disorder, certify 
13 
treatment providers, and ensure PhilHealth benefit packages for counseling and 
14 
therapy.  
15 
d) DSWD shall operate case management and debt-harm mitigation programs for 
16 
affected families, including referral to legal aid where necessary.  
17 
e) DILG shall require LGUs to establish barangay-level information drives, refer 
18 
cases to DOH and DSWD, and inspect public internet access points for 
19 
compliance with site blocking.  
20 
f) CICC shall operate a 24/7 national hotline and online portal for reporting illegal 
21 
operators, financial mule accounts, and advertising violations, and shall transmit 
22 
qualified reports to NBI-ACCD, PNP-ACG, AMLC, and NTC within twenty-four 
23 
hours. 
24 
 
25 
SECTION 16. Transparency, Metrics, and Legislative Oversight. 
26 
NTF-AOG shall publish a semiannual report indicating the number of domains, apps, IP 
27 
ranges, and advertiser accounts blocked; the number and value of financial accounts 
28 
frozen and forfeited; the number of investigations, charges filed, and convictions 
29 
obtained; and the reach of prevention and treatment services. The report shall present 
30 
outcome metrics, including reductions in access attempts and transaction volumes. The 
31 
House and Senate committees with jurisdiction shall conduct annual oversight hearings 
32 
on the implementation of this Act. 
33 
 
34 
SECTION 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
35 
Within sixty days from effectivity, DICT, DOJ, BSP, AMLC, NTC, NBI, PNP, SEC, DTI, 
36 
MTRCB, NPC, DOH, DSWD, DepEd, CHED, DILG, DFA, PAGCOR, and concerned 
37 
economic zone authorities shall promulgate joint implementing rules and regulations 
38 
that specify technical blocking methods, takedown procedures, identity-assurance 
39 
standards, transaction interdiction protocols, evidence handling, privacy safeguards, 
40 
reporting formats, and administrative penalty schedules. The IRR shall create a rapid 
41 
amendment mechanism for the unified blacklist and enforcement standards to address 
42 
evolving tactics. 
43 
 
44 
SECTION 18. Appropriations. 
45 


 
 
The amounts necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged 
1 
against current appropriations of the implementing agencies. Thereafter, such sums as 
2 
may be necessary shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
3 
 
4 
SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. 
5 
All laws, decrees, and issuances inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified 
6 
accordingly. 
7 
 
8 
SECTION 20. Effectivity. 
9 
This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in 
10 
a newspaper of general circulation. 
11 
 
12 
Approved, 
13