Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

295

House Bill No.

Introduced by HONORABLE DANILO E. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Gambling is the wagering of money or other items of value on an uncertain
event, dependent either wholly or in part on chance. Gambling has been practiced
throughout human history and continues to thrive around the world, both legally and
illegally, as a lucrative industry and popular entertainment activity.

Modern gambling, oftentimes called gaming, has increased rapidly in scope in
recent decades. The gaming industry provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of
workers and is an important source of tax revenue where it flourishes. Some community
and religious groups oppose gambling because of concerns that it leads to crime,
corruption, and other social ills. Legal gambling is subject to strict government regulation
in much of the world, including minimum age requirements and—in some cases—the
odds of winning in specific games or machines.

In the Philippines, games of chance and other numbers games are under the
direct control and supervision of certain government agencies, more particularly the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Racing Commission (PRC). PAGCOR
Operates and regulates casinos throughout the country. Lotto and sweepstakes
ions are under the wing of the PCSO while PRC handles all horse racing

With respect to two of the Filipinos favorite pastimes, cockfighting, there is no
government agency handling this. The illegal numbers game, juefeng, remains
Prevalent and is beyond the reach of government regulation. As it is, government is
unstructured and scattered when it comes to regulating gambling and gaming in the
country. This set-up disallows maximization of revenues on all types of gambling and
gaming that Filipinos engage in.

This bill thus seeks to centralize all government regulations and supervision over
gambling and gaming in the country to ensure maximization of earnings from casinos,
lotto and sweepstakes operations, small time lottery (STL), cockfighting and horseracing
games and from other numbers games. Through this proposed legislative measure, it is
expected that with the government assuming the role of a regulatory body, more taxes
and fees will be collected by the national government.

The approval of this bill is thus earnestly requested.
(Gee en
DANILO E. SUAREZ

Representative
Third District, Province of Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
: 295
House Bill No.

Introduced by HONORABLE DANILO E. SUAREZ

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL GAMING COMMISSION, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Sec, 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to regulate
the operation and conduct of games of chance and other related activities within the
territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sec. 2. Creation of the National Gaming Commission — To implement State policies and
pursue the objectives set forth in the preceding section, there is hereby created a
National Gaming Commission, hereinafter referred to as the NGC’, which shall have
regulatory powers over all games of chance and other numbers game within the
territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sec. 3. Coverage - The NGC shall regulate the operation of casinos presently handled
by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the lotto and
sweepstakes operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the
horseracing events operated by the Philippine Racing Commission (PRC), cockfighting
and other existing numbers games:

Sec. 4. Composition. - The NGC shall be composed of one (1) Commissioner as its
head and four (4) Deputy Commissioners. Each Deputy Commissioner shall be in
charge of casino, lottery operations (sweepstakes, lotto and small town lottery),
cockfighting, and horse racing.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, other
executive issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fiteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general ciculation.

Approved.