NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 1641
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23 JAN-9 PA 38
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROHIBITING GAME-FIXING AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATIONS THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution recognizes the importance of sports as it prescribes the State 
to give priority to it to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, 
and promote total human liberation and development. Moreover, it instructs the 
State to encourage sports programs, league competitions and amateur sports to 
foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of a healthy and 
alert citizenry.
Sports figure prominently in the Filipino way of life. In almost every barangay, 
there is a makeshift basketball court, wherein players hone their skills and develop 
camaraderie along with other positive attributes. In every fiesta celebration, there 
will certainly be sporting events which not only unite the peopie but also instill unto 
participants values of perseverance, resilience and discipline, among others. The 
younger generation looks up to basketball superstars and sports champions as their 
idols and heroes, whom they aspire to become someday. It is therefore imperative 
that the true spirit of fair play and athletic excellence be upheld, and the integrity of 
sports activities be preserved and be protected against dishonesty and corrupt 
practices.


This proposed measure aims to define game-fixing and declare such as 
unlawful. It also prescribes severe penalties, including life imprisonment, payment of 
hefty fines, and perpetual disqualification from participation in amateur and 
professional sports, for violators thereof.
It must be noted that during the pandemic, it was observed that incidents of 
match-fixing rose and that syndicates behind such illegal operations "diversified" into 
new areas which targeted vulnerable teams, players and officials who suffered 
financially because of the implementation of novel Coronavirus restrictions.
A version of this measure was already approved on Third and Final Reading 
by the House of Representatives on two occasions - during the Seventeenth and 
Eighteenth Congresses - but stalled before the Senate Committee on Sports.
The immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.
JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
'(Sfficp o( the
23 JHN-9 P4 38
SENATE
S. No. 1641
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROHIBITING GAME-FIXING AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATIONS THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti Game-Fixing
Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the 
growth and development of sports in the country and protect the youth from the 
influence of persons who, through fraudulent schemes, machinations and other 
nefarious practices, undermine the true spirit of sportsmanship and taint the fair and 
competitive conduct of sports in the country.
Towards this end, the State hereby declares game-fixing, point-shaving, and 
game machinations in any sports competition unlawful, and imposes severe 
penalties on these acts to discourage the commission thereof and to promote the 
values of excellence, fair play, and integrity in Philippine sports.
Sec. 3. Game-Fixing. - Game-fixing in any professional or amateur sports is 
hereby declared unlawful. Game-fixing refers to any arrangement, agreement, 
scheme, or act or series of act, wherein any person or persons, maliciously conduct 
or cause to be conducted any professional or amateur sports others than on the 
basis of the honest playing skill or ability of the players or participants or even 
deliberately limiting the skill or ability of any player or participant in a game, race, or


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sports competition in order to influence the process or to produce a pre-determined
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result for purposes of gambling, betting, or as part of a scheme to defraud the public
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on the conduct and outcome of the game.
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While proof of actual payment or receipt of money or any valuable
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consideration is not requirement to constitute the crime of game-fixing, it shall
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however, be deemed a prima facie evidence of its commission.
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Sec. 4. Other Forms of Game-Fixing. - Game-fixing shall likewise include the
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following acts:
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a) Point-shaving refers to any such arrangement, combination, scheme, or
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agreement by which the skill or ability of any player or participant in a
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game, race or sports competition to make points or scores shall be
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deliberately limited to influence the result thereof in favor of one or the
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other team, player or participant therein;
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b) Game machinations refer to any other fraudulent, deceitful, unfair, or
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dishonest means, method, manner or practice employed for the purpose
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of influencing the result of any game, race or sports contest; and
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c) The act of wilfully abetting, aiding, or inducing any person to commit
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game-fixing and profiting therefrom.
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Sec. 5. Game-Fixing by Syndicate. - Game-fixing is deemed committed by a
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syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring or
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confederating with one another to perform the act specified in Sections 3 and 4 of
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this Act.
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Sec. 6. Covered Sports. - Game-fixing may be committed in professional or
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amateur sports. For purposes of this Act, professional sports shall refer to individual
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or team sports, games, contests, bouts, tournaments or competitions whereby the
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participating athlete is paid sums of money or other forms of compensation as
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regular salary or prize for participation.
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Amateur sports shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contests,
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bouts, tournaments or competitions, including collegiate leagues conducted by the
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public or private school athletic associations, whereby the participant is engaged
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largely or entirely without remuneration.


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Sec. 7. Penalties. - The following penalties are hereby imposed on persons
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found guilty of game-fixing as herein described.
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a) The penalty of imprisonment from three (3) years and one (1) day to six
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(6) years, or a fine of not less than One million pesos (PI,000,000.00) but
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not more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00), or both at the discretion
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of the court shall be imposed upon any person, other than those referred
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to in subparagraphs b, c, d, and e, found guilty of any offense defined
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herein;
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b) The penalty of imprisonment from six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve
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(12) years or a fine not less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but
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not more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00), or both at the discretion
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of the court when the offender is an athlete, promoter, referee, umpire,
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judge, or coach;
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c) The penalty of life imprisonment or a fine of not less than Ten million
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pesos (10,000,000.00) but not more than Fifty million pesos
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(P50,000,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court, when the
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offender if a member of a syndicate as defined in Section 5 of this Act;
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d) The maximum penalty provided under this Act shall be imposed:
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1) If the offender is a public officer, whether elected or appointed. The
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accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public
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office or employment shall likewise 
be imposed;
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2) If the offender is the partner, president, director, manager, trustee,
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estate administrator or officer of a partnership, corporation, association
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or any juridical entity, who directly participated, consented or
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knowingly tolerated the game-fixing shall be held criminally liable as a
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principal; and
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3) If the offender is an alien, deportation shall be imposed only after the
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service of sentence.
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e) The liability of students who are minors found to have violated any of the
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offense defined herein shall be limited only to administrative liability
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pursuant to the disciplinary rules and regulations of the school or
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institution which they belong.


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Sec. 8. Proposal, Attempt, and Conspiracy to Commit Game-Fixing. - The
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penalty of imprisonment from one (1) year to three (3) years, or a fine of not less
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than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than One million
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pesos (PI,000,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court shall be imposed upon
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any person who proposes, attempts, or conspires to commit game-fixing.
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Sec. 9. Perpetual Disqualification from Participation in Amateur 
and
1 Professional Sports. - The following persons shall be perpetually disqualified to
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participate in any competitive sport:
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a) Those engaged in professional sports if convicted by final judgment of
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game-fixing; and
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b) Those engaged in amateur sports if convicted by final judgment for the
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second time. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Games and
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Amusements Board (GAB), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission
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on Higher Education (CHED), and other concerned agencies shall be
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served copies of the decision and order the disqualification of a person
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from participating in whatever capacity in any sports in the country.
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Sec. 10. Roles of Concerned Agencies. - The following agencies 
and
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instrumentalities are mandated to perform the following tasks;
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a) The GAB shall revoke the license of professional athletes and other sports
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officials. The provisions of this Act notwithstanding, the GAB may, in a
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separate administrative proceeding, suspend or revoke the professional
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license of any person found guilty of violation of other applicable laws,
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rules and regulations. GAB shall also institute measures and mechanisms,
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through employment of proven technologies and establishment of linkages
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and partnerships with other government authorities, private sector, sports
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associations, and other stakeholders, to monitor and detect suspicious
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activities and unfair practices indicative of game-fixing.
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b) The PSC shall remove athletes from the national team, including coaches
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and other sports officials, ban athletes from participating in all PSC-
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organized and -sanctioned amateur sports competitions, and disqualify
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athletes, coaches, and officials from being nominated for, or from
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receiving, any award pursuant to Republic Act No. 8757, otherwise known


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as the "Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act," or any award that may be
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given in the future;
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c) The DepEd shall ban 
primary and secondary level student-athletes
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including coaches and officiating staff, from participating in the Palarong
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Pambansa and other DepEd -sponsored, sanctioned or organized sports
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officials from their respective rosters;
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d) Athletic associations shall disqualify athletes, coaches, and other sports
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officials from participating in any inter-school athletic programs and
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competitions; and,
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e) Schools shall disqualify 
athletes, coaches, and sports officials from
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representing the school in any sports event.
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The concerned agencies 
shall coordinate and monitor the strict
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implementation of the accessory penalty provided under Section 9.
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Sec. 11. Witness Protection. - Any person who voluntarily discloses the
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commission of game-fixing, or testifies, or assists in the prosecution thereof, shall be
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exempt from any liability for game-fixing, and may be admitted to the Witness
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Protection Program under Republic Act No. 6981, otherwise known as the "Witness
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Protection, Security, and Benefit Act."
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Sec. 12. Separabiiity Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to
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be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - The pertinent provisions on game-fixing, point-
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shaving and game machinations in sports contests under Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of
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Presidential Decree No. 483, as amended, and under Section 1 of Presidential
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Decree No. 1602, are hereby repealed. All other laws, executive orders, issuances,
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decrees, rules and regulations or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
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Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
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completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of
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general circulation.
Approved,