TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  3169 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Online gambling has seen rapid proliferation in the Philippines in recent years. This 
has led to many Filipinos being now crippled by debt because of gambling. It has also led to 
serious social, economic, and criminal consequences, including addiction, financial distress, 
organized crime involvement, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations.  
There are many stories of Filipinos who become addicted to gambling because of the 
ease at which they can place bets and because of the lure of winning big.  
Research firm Capstone-Intel reported that with the rise of technology and the Internet, 
more people are turning to online betting as a form of entertainment and a potential source of 
income. Results of a survey they conducted in 2023 show that across the country, 64 percent 
of 1,200 respondents are engaged in online betting, with 66 percent of 18 to 40 year olds and 
57 percent of 41 to 55 year olds saying they do gamble online. 
Their survey also show that 39 percent who do online betting do so because they want 
to test their luck and 32 percent do it with the hopes of getting quick money. 
Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has expressed his support for 
proposals seeking to either ban or strictly regulate online gambling, as he pointed out that 
addiction to it is a mental health issue and that an adverse effect of gambling is “habit forming”. 
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has sounded the alarm, calling it 
a “moral and social emergency.  
This bill seeks to ban all forms of online gambling, whether operated within or outside 
Philippine territory but accessible to Filipinos, in order to protect public morals, welfare, and 
order. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
 MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR. 
August 6, 2025
10:38 am


TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and 
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. 
House Bill No.  3169 
AN ACT 
BANNING ALL FORMS OF ONLINE GAMBLING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND IMPOSING 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Online Gambling Ban Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect its 
citizens, especially minors and vulnerable sectors, from the harmful effects of gambling; 
maintain public order, decency, and morality; prevent the proliferation of illegal gambling 
operations using online platforms; and promote responsible digital use and financial well-
being. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined 
as follows: 
a. Online Gambling refers to the placing of bets or wagers through the internet or other
digital platforms, including mobile applications, in any contest, sporting event, or game
of chance, skill, or a combination thereof with the expectation of winning money or
anything of value;
b. Operator refers to any person, entity, corporation, or group that manages, controls, or
facilitates online gambling activities, whether based in the Philippines or abroad;
c.
Player refers to any person who participates, places bets, or wagers in any form of
online gambling activity;
d. Platform refers to any digital service, website, application, or network that enables or
facilitates online gambling;
e. Gambling Website refers to a website or application that offers any form of online
gambling services, including betting or wagering activities;
f.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) refers to any entity that provides internet access to
consumers, whether via broadband, fiber, satellite, or other means;
g. Internet refers to an international or global computer network providing variety of
information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using
standardized communication protocols;
h. Person - refers to an individual, partnership, corporation or any other business or legal
entity.


 
SECTION 4. Prohibition. – It is unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts: 
 
a. Issuing or causing to be issued, franchise, license, permit or any other form of 
authority to operate online gambling of any form;  
 
b. Holding, conducting, engaging, operating or maintaining online gambling of any 
form; 
 
c. Creating, operating or maintaining Online or Off-site betting platforms, mobile 
applications or websites for online gambling that allows users to place bets or 
wagers through phones, tablets, computers or similar instruments or gadgets; 
 
d. Online or Off-site placing, receiving or transmitting of bets or wagers in contest, 
sporting event, or game of chance streamed or broadcasted live from the place 
where such contest, sporting event, or game of chance is being held;  
 
e. Promoting or supporting online gambling; 
 
f. Providing in any manner and by any means the place, materials, equipment, or 
instruments needed or necessary for the conduct of any act or activity prohibited 
or declared illegal under this Act; 
 
g. Facilitating financial transactions related to online gambling 
 
h. Promoting, influencing through print media, social media, aiding, protecting or 
abetting the conduct or commission of any act or activity declared illegal and 
punishable under this Act; and 
 
 
SECTION 5. Extraterritorial Application – This Act shall apply to all Filipinos and Philippine-
based entities, regardless of location, and to foreign operators whose services are accessible 
within the Philippines. 
 
SECTION 6. Violations of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment and 
fine as follows: 
a. Issuing or causing to be issued, franchise, license, permit or other forms of 
authority to operate online gambling, and operating, maintaining, holding, 
conducting, or engaging in online gambling in any form shall be punished by 
imprisonment of not less than eight (8) years nor more than twelve (12) years and 
a fine of not less than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) nor more than Five 
Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) at the discretion of the Court.  
 
b. Creating, operating or maintaining online or off-site betting platforms, mobile 
applications or websites for online gambling; and online or off site placing, receiving 
or transmitting of bets or wagers in contest, sporting event, or game of chance 
streamed or broadcasted live from the place where such contest, sporting event, 
or game of chance is being held shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than 
five (5) years nor more than eight (8) years and a fine of not less than Seven 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 700,000.00) nor more than One Million Pesos (Php 
1,000,000.00) at the discretion of the Court.  
 
c. Promoting or supporting online gambling of any form; providing in any manner and 
by any means the place, materials, equipment, or instruments needed or necessary 
for the conduct of any act or activity prohibited or declared illegal under this Act; 


and promoting, influencing, aiding, protecting or abetting the conduct of any act or 
activity declared illegal and punishable under this Act shall be punished by 
imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor more than five (5) years and a 
fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00) nor more 
than Seven Hundred Pesos (Php 700,000.00) at the discretion of the Court.  
 
In case the prohibited act is committed by a corporation, the President, Vice 
President, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Operating Officer/General Manager of the 
corporation shall be held liable criminally for such act. In the case of a partnership, the 
managing partner shall be held criminally liable. In case of a single proprietorship, the owner-
proprietor shall be held criminally liable.  
 
In case the person liable for the violation is a foreign national, he shall, in addition to 
the penalty of imprisonment and fine imposed, be deported immediately after service of the 
penalty imposed and shall forever be barred from re-entering the Country.  
 
Any person convicted for violation of any provision of this Act shall not be qualified 
for parole or probation.  
SECTION 7. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall: 
 
1. Block access to identified online gambling websites, applications, and domains; 
 
2. Issue orders to internet service providers (ISPs) to suspend or terminate connections 
that allow access to such platforms; 
 
3. Coordinate with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the 
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for enforcement. 
 
SECTION 8. All Internet Service Providers (ISPs) shall be required to block access to any 
online gambling websites that violate this Act. ISPs shall also cooperate with authorities in 
identifying individuals or entities operating illegal online gambling platforms. 
 
SECTION 9. Information and Education Campaign. – The Department of Education (DepEd) 
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the 
Department of Health (DOH), shall develop and implement a nationwide awareness program 
on the risks and consequences of online gambling. 
 
SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DOJ, DILG, PNP, PAGCOR and other concerned government 
agencies, shall jointly promulgate the implementing rules and regulations as may be 
necessary to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, 
issuance or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least in two (2) national newspapers of general  
 
Approved,