TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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iSflirF5i;
iC-ffifi* of ! tf '%• '•
25 JUL 10 P2 :28
SENATE
S. B. No. 374
RF.CF.iVED B'V:
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROHIBITING ONLINE PUBLICATION AND PROMOTION OF GAMBLING- 
RELATED CONTENT PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that it is the policy of the 
State to promote just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity of our 
nation.
One of the persistent threats to achieving such a social order is the prevalence 
of gambling, which has been consistently associated with addiction, criminal activities, 
and other social issues that undermine the moral fabric of our society. The Supreme 
Court, in Urn t/. Pacquing {G.R. No. 115044, January 17, 1995), aptly recognized that 
"gambling is essentially antagonistic to the objectives of national productivity and self- 
reliance; it is a vice and a social ill which the government must minimize or eradicate 
in pursuit of social and economic development"
In light of the rapid development and growing influence of digital platforms and 
social media, it has come to this representation's attention that user-generated 
content promoting, demonstrating, or providing instructions on gambling activities is 
readily accessible to the general public, including vulnerable sectors such as the youth.
In response to these concerns, this legislative measure seeks to prohibit the 
online publication, dissemination, or promotion of materials that instruct or


demonstrate gambling activities, as well as commentaries and advertisements that 
encourage or normalize participation in such activities.
This proposed legislation aims to reduce, if not altogether eliminate, public 
exposure to gambling-related content, thereby mitigating its harmful effects on 
individuals, families, and communities. It represents a proactive step towards 
safeguarding public welfare and upholding the constitutional mandate to promote a 
just, moral, and productive society.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
ROBINHO0b C. PADILLA
Senator


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 374
iBffri'Bf t'l’i’' 
.......
25 JUL 10 P2 ’2Q 
\
received IT:
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROHIBITING ONLINE PUBLICATION AND PROMOTION OF GAMBLING- 
RELATED CONTENT PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect its
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people from all matters affecting the security of its social order, particularly the
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preservation of good order and public morals. Consistent thereto is the adoption of
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measures to suppress gambling, which has been a notorious social menace impairing
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family relationships, finances, and values.
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. —
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(a) Internet refers to an international computer network of interoperable
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packet-switched data networks. It includes the electronic medium in
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which online communication takes place;
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(b) Gambling refers to the betting or staking of something of value, with
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consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on the outcome of a game, a
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contest, or an uncertain event whose result may be determined by
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chance or accident or have an unexpected result by reason of the
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bettor's miscalculation. It is likewise the practice or activity of betting
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or the practice of risking money or other stakes in the game or a bet;


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(c) Online content refers to the textual, aural, or visual content published 
on a website including social media platforms;
(d) Promotion refers broadly to any event, activity, display, or paid 
endorsement organized to promote online gambling or any provider of 
the same, including sponsorship and logo use in any form of mass 
media;
(e) Publication refers to a communication to a third party whether printed, 
posted online, or otherwise disseminated;
(f) Service Providers refers to:
(i) Any public or private entity that provides to users of its service 
the ability to communicate by means of a computer system; and
(ii) Any other entity that processes or stores computer data on 
behalf of such communication service or its users.
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Sec. 3. Prohibited Contents. — It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or
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juridical, to:
(a) instruct or demonstrate gambling, or to distribute information online, in 
whole or in part, on placing, receiving, or otherwise knowingly transmitting 
a bet or wager by any means;
(b) to cause the publishing of commentaries on gambling activities through 
online platforms; and
(c) to advertise or publicize gambling activities online to an individual, 
group, or the general public, or promote awareness of the gambling 
activities:
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Provided, that this Act shall not apply to state-run or legitimate operators of
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gambling activities publishing any of the abovementioned contents on their official
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websites.
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Sec. 4. Restricting or Biocking Access to Prohibited Content — When an online
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content is prime facie found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act, the
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Department of Justice (DOJ) shall issue a disabling order to restrict or block access to
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such content with notice to the Department of Information and Communications
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Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to monitor
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compliance thereto.
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Sec. 5. Duty of Service Providers. — Service providers must comply with the
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disabling orders within forty-eight (48) hours of the issuance of the disabling order
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and must disable the pages bearing the prohibited contents penalized under this Act
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by implementing an effective technical measure to disable or prevent access thereto
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which may include domain name system (DNS) blocking, IP blocking, URL blocking,
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server name indicator blocking, or other means.
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Sec. 6. Penaities. — Any person who shall publish any of the following
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prohibited online content mentioned in Section 4 of this Act shall be punished with a
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penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to one (1) year or a fine not less
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than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred
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Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00).
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The maximum penalty of three (3) years imprisonment and the fine of Five
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Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) shall likewise be imposed if the offender has
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linked the prohibited content to an online gambling site, or has received any form of
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remuneration or commissions for publishing the prohibited content.
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If the offender is a juridical person, the maximum penalty of three (3) years
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imprisonment and a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) shall be
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imposed upon the President, director/s, manager, or managing partner/s, and/or
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responsible officer/s thereof.
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Sec. 7. Jurisdiction. — The Regional Trial Court shall have jurisdiction over any
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violation of the provisions of this Act, including any violation committed by a Filipino
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national, regardless of the place of commission.


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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and, in consultation with
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the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), other
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appropriate government agencies, and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules
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and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, and rules
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and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,
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