Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 637

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Gambling, by its nature, is inherently opposed to God’s will and
principles because its underpinning spirit or motivation is love of money —
whether on the part of the gamblers of the part or on the part of the
gambling operators. Having said so, it will never get the blessing of God
and is doomed to be shrouded with complications and curses. While
earning money and accumulating legitimate wealth are not evil in
themselves, the Holy Scriptures is explicitly against gambling because it
is simply chasing after money at the expense of our lives or the lives of
others. It is social disease which steals properties and fortunes, destroys
family relations and decapitates the dignity of those who have succumb to
its addiction.

Existing laws and jurisprudence affirm that any form of gambling is
detrimental to the welfare of the people and prohibiting it as a way to
repress an evil that undermines the social, moral, and economic growth
of the nation is valid. However, as advancement in technology dawns,
gambling also takes different platforms. Nowadays, gambling has gone
online, and its reach and evil effects have gone unprecedented. The rate
at which online gambling lures people into gambling addiction, pushes
them into debt trap, causes them to commit crimes, enslaves them to
poverty cycle and even leads to suicide has been very alarming recently.
The liberal and unregulated access of both young ones and adults into
online gambling activities facilitates and accelerates the wreaking of tis


havoc. Its digital nature makes it harder to regulate and more dangerous
than traditional forms of gambling.

This bill seeks to prohibit and penalize online gambling. It
criminalizes the placing, receiving, or transmitting of online bets, and
imposes penalties on violators—including corporations and public officials
who enable or promote such activities. It further repeals any existing laws
or regulations that may be interpreted to authorize or regulate online
gambling. Ultimately, the bill is a preventive step to protect Filipino
families, uphold public morals, and address the social risks posed by
online gambling.

With the foregoing, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly
sought.

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EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 637

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA

AN ACT PROHIBITING ONLINE GAMBLING, PENALIZING THE
PLACING OF WAGERS OR BETS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR
ANY FORM OF ONLINE GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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 “Anti-Online
Gambling Act of 2025.

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. Through policies that provide adequate
social services, promote full employment, and a commitment to create
economic opportunities, the State shall free the people from poverty.
Thus, the State shall adopt measures to eliminate and prohibit all forms
of online gambling activities as this will bring gambling to the very heart of
the family by allowing gambling to enter the family home. Online gambling
will influence the young minds and will send wrong values to the youth.

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
interoperable packet switched data networks. It includes the


electronic medium in which online communication takes place.

a) "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.

b) “Internet Gambling” or "Online Gambling" refers to placing,
receiving, or otherwise knowingly transmitting a bet or wager by any
means which involves the use, at least 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, at least 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 (Php 100,000.00) nor more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 500,000.00) at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a
corporation or association, the maximum penalty of five (5) years and the
fine of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00) shall be imposed
upon the President, Director, Manager or Managing partners thereof. If
the offender is a public officer or employee, or if a public officer or
employee promotes or encourages online gambling, the maximum
penalty prescribed for the offense shall be imposed and, in addition, he
shall be dismissed from the public service and perpetually disqualified
from holding any public office, to vote and to participate in any election.

SEC. 5. Repeal of Authority to Regulate Online Gambling. — All
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 approval of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government and the Secretary of the Department of
Justice shall jointly promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this measure.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to, or inconsistent with this
Act are hereby modified or repealed accordingly.


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SEC. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,