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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE POWER OF THE PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING 
CORPORATION (PAGCOR) TO LICENSE, REGULATE, AND SUPERVISE ALL ONSITE 
AND ONLINE GAMES OF CHANCE INCLUDING ITS GAME FACILITIES AMENDING 
FURTHER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9487 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PAGCOR CHARTER AS 
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Holy Writ has sternly warned us that, “For the love of money is the root of all evil,…” 1 
Timothy 6:10 (KJV) 
Last February 2, 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 
13. Arguably, the order is an effort to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling and clarify
jurisdictions for licensing agencies that regulate and license gambling facilities and online
gambling houses. However, it was widely believed to have opened the floodgates for POGOs.
As early as 2022, the positions of some of our government agencies have already held that 
while POGO revenues contribute to the government coffers, these come at significant social costs 
and moral damage to us as we have clearly seen before our very eyes that there are links to some 
illegal activities such as prostitution, employment of minors, and violation of labor laws even 
extrajudicial killings in POGO operations which are now considered as an issue of threat to 
national security. 
Concomitantly, last June 4, 2018, a disbarment case was filed against former Government 
Corporate Counsel, Atty. Rudolf Philip B. Jurado and thereafter was reprimanded and sternly 
warned by the Supreme Court for allegedly overstepping his authority by allowing the Aurora 
Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Authority  (APECO) to issue franchises beyond its 
jurisdiction.1 
Here, we can surmise that while debatably often unintentional, legal loopholes can have 
far-reaching negative consequences that undermine the rule of law public trust, and public safety. 
The intricacies of the legal system can often give rise to unintended consequences, as legal 
1 https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2020/oct2020/pdf/ac_12247_2020.pdf 
August 20, 2024
8:00 am
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loopholes can be exploited in ways that undermine the intended purpose of the law for the benefit 
of their personal interests. 
Thus, we do not want and cannot afford that the ambiguities and inconsistencies within 
our laws will only be exploited by savvy individuals, organizations, and agencies to circumvent 
the intended spirit and purpose of the legislation. 
 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE POWER OF THE PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING 
CORPORATION (PAGCOR) TO LICENSE, REGULATE, AND SUPERVISE ALL ONSITE 
AND ONLINE GAMES OF CHANCE INCLUDING ITS GAME FACILITIES AMENDING 
FURTHER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9487 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PAGCOR CHARTER AS 
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in session assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Empowering PAGCOR Act of 
2024” 
SEC. 2 - an Act Further Amending Presidential Decree no. 1869, otherwise known as 
PAGCOR Charter under Republic Act 9487 is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
(1) Section 1, Delegation of Policy, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC 1. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to 
centralize and integrate INCLUDING ALL [all] games of chance INCLUDING 
ITS FACILITIES WHETHER ONSITE OR ONLINE  [not heretofore] authorized by 
existing franchises or permitted by law in order to attain the following objectives:  
a.
To [centralize and integrate] REGULATE the right and authority to operate
and conduct games of chance into one corporate entity to be controlled,
administered, and supervised by the Government;
b.
To establish and operate clubs and casinos, for amusement and recreation,
including sports gaming pools INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
(basketball, football, lotteries, etc.) and such other forms of amusement and
recreation including games of chance, which may be allowed by law within
the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines and which will:
(1) generate sources of additional revenue to fund infrastructure and
socio-civic projects, such as flood control programs, beautification,
sewerage, and sewage projects, Tulungan ng Bayan Centers,
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Nutritional Programs, Population Control, and other essential 
public services; 
 
(2) create recreation and integrated facilities that will expand and 
improve the country’s existing tourist attractions; and  
 
(3) minimize, if not totally eradicate, the evils, malpractices, and 
corruptions that are normally prevalent in the conduct and 
operation of gambling clubs and casinos without direct government 
involvement. 
 
(2) Section 3,  Corporate Powers. The Corporation shall have the following powers and 
functions, among others, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC. 3 Corporate Powers. The Corporation shall have the following powers and 
functions, among others: 
 
a. XXX; 
b. XXX; 
c. XXX; 
d. XXX; 
e. XXX; 
f. XXX; 
g. XXX; 
h. XXX; 
i. 
XXX; 
j. 
XXX; 
k. to perform such other powers and functions as may be provided by law, 
SUCH AS HAVING ACCESS TO THE PREMISES OF GAMING 
FACILITIES, WHETHER ONSITE OR ONLINE AT ANY TIME OF THE 
DAY OR NIGHT WHENEVER THE GAME IS BEING UNDERTAKEN 
TO CHECK ITS COMPLIANCE OF LICENSING OR IF THERE ARE 
ANY 
ILLEGAL 
GAMBLING 
ACTIVITIES 
CLANDESTINELY 
CONDUCTED THEREIN, AND TO REPORT THE SAME TO THE 
RESPECTIVE AUTHORITIES; and 
l. 
XXX. 
 
(3) Section 10, Nature and Term of Franchise, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC. 10. Nature and Term of Franchise. - Subject to the terms and conditions 
established in this Decree, the Corporation is hereby granted from the expiration of 
its original term on July 11, 2008, another period of twenty-five (25) years, renewable 
for another twenty-five (25) years, the rights, privileges, and authority to [operate and 
license] LICENSE, REGULATE, AND SUPERVISE ALL gambling casinos, gaming 
clubs, and other similar recreation or amusement places, gaming pools, i.e. SUCH AS 
BUT NOT LIMITED TO basketball, football, bingo, etc. except jai-alai, PHILIPPINE 
OFFSHORE 
GAMING 
OPERATORS, 
(POGO), 
INTERNET 
GAMING 
LICENSEES 
(IGL) 
AND 
ALL 
OTHER 
ELETRONIC 
GAMES 
AND 


 
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AMUSEMENTS whether on land or sea, within the territorial jurisdiction of the 
Republic of the Philippines: Provided, That the corporation shall obtain the consent 
of the local government unit that has territorial jurisdiction over the area chosen as 
the site for any of its operations. 
 
The operation of slot machines and other gambling paraphernalia and 
equipment, shall not be allowed in establishments open or accessible to the general 
public unless the sites of these operations are three-star hotels and resorts accredited 
by the Department of Tourism authorized by the corporation and by the local 
government unit concerned, AND SHALL NOT WITHIN A FIVE HUNDRED (500) 
METER LINEAR RADIUS FROM ANY EXISTING PLACES OF WORSHIP AND 
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
 
The authority and power of the PAGCOR to authorize, license, and regulate 
games of chance, games of cards, and games of numbers [shall not extend to] SHALL 
LIKEWISE EXTEND TO:  
 
(1) games of chance authorized, licensed, and [regulated] or to be authorized, 
licensed, and [regulated by, in,] and under existing franchises or other 
regulatory bodies;  
 
(2) games of chance, games of cards, and games of numbers authorized, licensed, 
regulated by, in, and under ALL  special laws [such as Republic Act No. 7922], 
and  
 
(3) games of chance, games of cards, and games of numbers like cockfighting, 
authorized, licensed, and regulated by local government units. The conduct 
of such games of chance, games of cards, and games of numbers covered by 
existing franchises, [regulatory bodies], or special laws, to the extent of the 
jurisdiction and powers granted under such franchises and special laws, shall 
be [outside] WITHIN the licensing authority, and SUPERVISORY AND 
regulatory powers of the PAGCOR." 
SEC 2. Repealing Clause.  All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of 
instruction, administrative rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 3. Separability Clause. In case any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC 4.  Effectivity.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication 
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever is 
earlier. 
 
 
Approved.