ornate
- 
of Me
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
387
S.B. No.
25 JULIO P3:16
RECEIVED BV.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
REGULATING THE ACCESSIBILITY AND MARKETING OF ONLINE GAMBLING 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, REDUCING GAMBLING-RELATED ADDICTION AND 
HARM, ESTABLISHING A HARM MITIGATION LEVY, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Online gambling has grown exponentially in the Philippines, penetrating even 
the most marginalized communities through mobile phones, social media, and e-wallet 
applications. Unlike traditional casinos, online gambling platforms operate without 
physical or financial boundaries. They are accessible 24/7, promoted aggressively 
across platforms, and often disguised as innocuous forms of entertainment. As stated 
by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio "Ambo" David, Chairperson of the Catholic Bishops 
Conference of the Philippines, "Who needs to sneak into a high-end casino when the 
casino has been brought into every living room, every bedroom, every child's pocket 
— right there on the glowing screen of a smartphone?"
The current regulatory framework has failed to address this new reality, 
leaving millions vulnerable to exploitation and harm.
This Bill seeks to fill that gap. It recognizes that gambling addiction is not merely 
a moral or legal issue, it is a public health concern. The World Health Organization 
classifies "gambling disorder" as a behavioral addiction that can have devastating 
consequences for individuals and families. Evidence shows strong links between 
gambling and depression, anxiety, family violence, bankruptcy, school dropout, and 
even suicide.
Without robust regulation, online gambling becomes a silent epidemic: it hides 
in piain sight, targets the vuinerable, and thrives on unchecked behavioral 
manipulation.
The proposed measure seeks to:


1. Set a minimum age of 21 and require strong identity verification to 
prevent underage gambling;
2. Establish a self-exclusion system, including family-initiated bans, to 
empower individuals and loved ones to protect themselves from harm;
3. Enforce automatic suspensions when users exceed time or money limits, 
followed by a cooling-off period;
4. Ban all advertising in public spaces, tri-media, and social media, and 
prohibit celebrity endorsements that glamorize gambling;
5. Impose a Harm Mitigation Levy—a sin tax of ten percent (10%) on online 
gambling revenues—to fund treatment, public education, regulation, 
and research;
6. Create accessible, government-supported rehabilitation programs for 
individuals suffering from gambling addiction; and
7. Ensure that those affected by gambling disorder are protected from 
stigma and discrimination, in line with the Mental Health Act.
This Bill builds on the country's experience in regulating tobacco, alcohol, and 
sugary foods. These are harmful products that are taxed, restricted in advertising, and 
subject to public education efforts. It seeks to regulate, restrict, and reframe gambling 
not as harmless play, but as a high-risk activity with serious consequences for Filipino 
families.
In the interest of safeguarding the well-being of our people, immediate passage 
of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS U
Senator


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
■ V..
'DVMt of ii!r #'i "i.'irp
25 JULIO P3;16
SENATE
387
S.B. No.
RECEIVED BY:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
REGULATING THE ACCESSIBILITY AND MARKETING OF ONLINE GAMBLING 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, REDUCING GAMBLING-RELATED ADDICTION AND 
HARM, ESTABLISHING A HARM MITIGATION LEVY, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Phiiippines 
assembied:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 
17
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Kontra E-Sugal
Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, 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 and free the people from poverty, and to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. In line with the State's duty to uphold the dignity and well-being of its 
citizens, it shall exercise its police power to regulate economic activities that pose risks 
to public health, safety, and morals, including gambling.
The State further recognizes that gambling disorder poses a risk to public health and 
economic well-being, and shall adopt a comprehensive, evidence-based, and multi­
sectoral approach to prevent and mitigate gambling-related harms.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a) Online Gambling - refers to the conduct of online games or schemes, the result 
of which depends wholly or chiefly upon chance, and the taking of wagers 
consisting of money, articles of value or representative of value through any 
computer or communication device connected to the Internet or the use of


1 
Internet-based technology and other communication devices that are necessary
2 
for gaming operations. This includes the offering of online gambling games or
3 
wagering via online gambling platform outside the gaming area of a land-based
4 
casino;
5 
b) Online Gambling Platform - refers to the virtual venue or online channel
6 
developed to allow the registered players to remotely access online gambling
7 
through the internet. It may be web-based or accessed via a mobile application;
8 
c) Online Gambling Operator - refers to any individual, corporation, or other
9 
private entity duly licensed by authorities to set up and to operate an online
10 
gambling platform, including service providers providing indispensable service
11 
to the online gambling operation;
12 
d) Self-Exclusion - refers to a mechanism that allows individuals to voluntarily ban
13 
themselves from gambling activities.
14 
e) Super app - A super app is a mobile or web application that combines multiple
15 
services into a single platform, often referred to as a multi-service platform that
16 
consolidates various functionalities, including but not limited to messaging, e-
17 
commerce, financial services, transportation, delivery, or more.
18 
f) Harm Mitigation Levy refers to a tax collected from operators to fund gambling
19 
harm reduction programs.
20 
g) Gambling-Related Harm refers to any adverse consequence experienced by an
21 
individual or members of their social network due to participation in gambling,
22 
including but not limited to financial loss, psychological distress, relationship
23 
problems, and negative impacts on physical health, employment, or education.
24 
h) Behavioral Indicators of Harm refer to patterns in a player's online gambling
25 
activity, such as rapid increases in spending, prolonged and frequent gambling
26 
sessions, chasing losses, repeated attempts to reverse withdrawals, or frequent
27 
changes in self-imposed limits, that suggest a risk of or actual gambling-related
28 
harm.
29
30 
I. ACCESS RESTRICTIONS
31


1 
SEC. 4. Age restrictions. - Only individuals twenty-one (21) years of age or
2 
older shall be permitted to register and participate in online gambling platforms. All
3 
licensed online gambling operators shall establish and implement effective age
4 
verification protocols to ensure that only individuals who are at least twenty-one (21)
5 
years of age are permitted to register, access, or participate in any online gambling
6 
platform.
7 
The age verification process shall include, at a minimum, the submission and
8 
authentication of a government-issued identification document or equivalent digital
9 
identification, consistent with existing Know-Your-Customer (KYC) standards.
10 
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) shall issue guidelines
11 
on acceptable forms of age verification, including digital methods and technological
12 
safeguards, and shall conduct regular audits to assess the effectiveness and integrity
13 
of each operator's age verification system. Failure to comply with the minimum
14 
verification standards or any attempt to circumvent age restrictions shall constitute a
15 
ground for administrative sanctions, including fines, suspension, or revocation of
16 
license.
17 
SEC. 5. Non-accessibiiity of online gaming platforms in electronic
18 
wallets and super apps. - Electronic wallets and super apps shall be prohibited from
19 
directly linking their electronic instruments or devices to online gambling platforms
20 
through uniform resource locators (URLs), including but not limited to app links,
21 
hyperlinks, and other similar methods. Apps that are linked to online gaming platforms
22 
shall cause the de-linking upon passage of this Act. Account funding and
23 
withdrawal shall be done only through Anti-Money Laundering Council-compliant
24 
channels, such as over the counter and online banking; Provided, That account
25 
funding through credit cards or other credit facilities shall only be allowed to accounts
26 
with healthy financial risk profiles as determined by a mandatory affordability check
27 
conducted in accordance with Section 12 of this Act.
28 
Electronic wallets and super apps shall be prohibited from advertising online
29 
gambling within their platforms.
30 
SEC. 6. Self-exclusion. - There is hereby established a National Online
31 
Gambling Self-Exclusion Registry, to be maintained and administered by the Philippine
32 
PAGCOR, in coordination with licensed online gambling operators.


1 
Any individual who wishes to voluntarily restrict their access to online gambling
2 
activities may enroll themselves in the Self-Exclusion Registry through a secure and
3 
confidential digital platform to be developed and maintained by PAGCOR. Enrollment
4 
shall result in the immediate suspension of all existing online gambling accounts
5 
registered under the individual's identity and shall prevent the creation of new
6 
accounts during the period of exclusion. Online gambling operators shall also be
7 
prohibited from sending any direct marketing materials, including electronic
8 
communications or telemarketing calls, to individuals listed on the Self-Exclusion
9 
Registry. The following shall govern the operationalization of the self-exclusion system
10 
for online gambling platforms:
11 
a) All licensed operators shall be required to integrate their platforms with the
12 
National Self-Exclusion Registry and comply with real-time data synchronization
13 
protocols prescribed by PAGCOR;
14 
b) Operators shall immediately suspend or deactivate any gambling account linked
15 
to an individual listed in the registry and deny re-registration attempts for the
16 
duration of exclusion;
17 
c) The minimum period for self-exclusion shall be six (6) months, renewable at
18 
the instance of the registrant, and any request for reactivation of access shall
19 
be subject to mandatory cooling-off procedures and psychological screening as
20 
may be determined by PAGCOR;
21 
d) All operators must provide a clearly visible and accessible self-exclusion option
22 
on their platforms, along with information on the harms of gambling and
23 
resources for seeking help.
24 
PAGCOR shall conduct regular audits of operator compliance, establish
25 
technical standards for interoperability and data protection, and may impose
26 
administrative penalties for any breach or circumvention of the self-exclusion system.
27 
All data collected under the self-exclusion program shall be protected under the
28 
Data Privacy Act of 2012 and shall be used solely for the purpose of enforcing
29 
responsible gambling measures.
30 
SEC. 7. Family member-initiated player banning. - In cases where an
31 
individual is exhibiting signs of problematic or harmful gambling behavior, immediate
32 
family members shall have the right to request the temporary suspension of that


1 
individual's access to online gambling platforms, subject to the procedure to be
2 
established by PAGCOR. All operators shall comply with family-initiated banning orders
3 
issued by PAGCOR and shall integrate the necessary system protocols to enforce such
4 
bans across all platforms. Any misuse or abuse of this remedy by a family member,
5 
including false or malicious allegations, shall be penalized in accordance with
6 
applicable laws on perjury and civil damages. For purposes of this Section, immediate
7 
family members shall include the player's spouse, parent, child of legal age, or legal
8 
guardian.
9 
SEC. 8. Betting loss limits. - To promote responsible gambling and mitigate
10 
financial harm, all licensed online gambling operators shall implement maximum limits
11 
on the amount that may be wagered or lost by any player on a daily, weekly, and
12 
monthly basis. PAGCOR, in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, shall
13 
prescribe, review, and periodically update the monetary thresholds for betting and
14 
losses, taking into consideration evidence-based standards of gambling harm
15 
prevention, the results of mandatory affordability checks conducted under Section 12
16 
of this Act, the bettor's financial profile, current daily minimum wage, and maximum
17 
bet payout.
18 
Each player shall be automatically suspended from accessing online gambling
19 
services upon reaching any of the prescribed daily, weekly, or monthly loss or betting
20 
limits. The suspension shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force for a
21 
mandatory cooling-off period of not less than thirty (30) calendar days, during which
22 
the operator shall restrict all gambling-related access and communications with the
23 
suspended player. Reinstatement of access after the cooling-off period shall be subject
24 
to reaffirmed user consent, mandatory reminders on gambling risks, and additional
25 
identity verification procedures to ensure that the same individual seeks reactivation
26 
voluntarily and with full awareness of the risks involved. Operators are prohibited from
27 
offering promotions, bonuses, or targeted advertising to any user under suspension
28 
or within seven (7) days after the expiration of the cooling-off period.
29 
PAGCOR shall audit operator compliance with this Section and impose
30 
administrative sanctions for failure to enforce loss limits, suspensions, or cooling-off
31 
protocols. Non-compliant operators may be subject to fines, suspension, or revocation
32 
of license, without prejudice to other civil, criminal, or administrative liabilities.


1
2 
II. ENHANCED DUTY OF CARE AND PLAYER PROTECTION
3
4 
SEC. 9. Mandatory Affordability Checks. - Online gambling platforms shall
5 
implement and maintain systems to conduct mandatory affordability checks on players
6 
at the point of account registration and periodically thereafter. These checks shall
7 
assess a player's financial capacity to gamble without incurring undue financial harm,
8 
taking into account declared income, expenditure, and other relevant financial
9 
indicators. PAGCOR shall, in consultation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
10 
and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), issue detailed guidelines on the
11 
methodology, thresholds, and permissible data sources for these checks, in
12 
compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173).
13 
SEC. 10. Restriction of Piay Based on Affordability. - Where an
14 
affordability check indicates that a player's gambling activity poses a significant risk of
15 
financial harm, or where the source of funds cannot be satisfactorily verified, the
16 
online gambling platform shall implement immediate and appropriate measures to
17 
restrict the player's ability to deposit or wager. Such measures may include setting
18 
mandatory deposit limits, restricting access to certain high-stake games, or, in severe
19 
cases, suspending or terminating the player's account, with clear communication and
20 
guidance on seeking financial and gambling support.
21 
SEC. 11. Proactive Monitoring of Player Activity. - Online gambling
22 
platforms shall implement and continuously maintain robust, real-time automated
23 
systems and processes designed to monitor individual player activity for the purpose
24 
of identifying ang flagging behavioral indicators of gambling-related harm. These
25 
systems shall be capable of identifying and flagging patterns of spend, time spent
26 
gambling, changes in gambling behavior, customer-led contact indicating distress, use
27 
or non-use of gambling management tools, and other relevant account indicators as
28 
defined by PAGCOR. PAGCOR shall issue detailed guidelines on the specific behavioral
29 
indicators of harm and the technical standards for such monitoring systems.
30 
SEC. 12. Tailored and Escalating Interventions. - Upon identification of
31 
indicators of harm pursuant to the above, the online gambling platform shall, in a
32 
timely manner, take appropriate, tailored, and escalating interventions designed to


1 
minimize and prevent further harm. Such interventions shall include, but not be limited
2 
to: automated, personalized messages mandatory 'reality checks' or 'take a break'
3 
prompts that temporarily halt gameplay at defined intervals or after significant play
4 
duration or cumulative loss, direct human interaction with staff specifically trained in
5 
harm identification, temporary account suspensions for players exhibiting escalating
6 
risk profiles, cessation of all marketing communications for players identified with
7 
moderate to high indicators of harm. PAGCOR shall issue and periodically update
8 
detailed guidelines specifying the types of interventions, their triggers, and the
9 
escalation protocols to be followed by licensed operators. PAGCOR shall issue and
10 
periodically update detailed guidelines specifying the types of interventions, their
11 
triggers, and the escalation protocols to be followed by licensed operators.
12 
SEC. 13. Algorithmic Integrity, Evaluation, and Player Rights. - The
13 
algorithms used for identifying problematic play patterns and for automated decision-
14 
making shall be subject to independent, regular audits and certification by accredited
15 
third-party organizations to ensure their effectiveness, fairness, and to prevent their
16 
misuse as manipulative tools. Audit reports shall be submitted annually to PAGCOR.
17 
Operators shall regularly evaluate the impact of their intervention strategies on player
18 
behavior and overall harm minimization, and shall be able to demonstrate measurable
19 
outcomes to the regulatory authority.
20 
SEC. 14. Game Integrity. - All online gambling platforms shall ensure the
21 
integrity and fairness of their games through the mandatory use of certified Random
22 
Number Generators and transparent Return to Player metrics.
23 
a) Random Number Generators (RNGs)- All games offered by online gambling
24 
platforms that rely on random outcomes shall utilize a certified Random Number
25 
Generator (RNG). Such RNGs shall be independently tested and certified by an
26 
accredited third-party testing laboratory to ensure statistical randomness,
27 
unpredictability, and non-repeatability of outcomes. Certification reports shall
28 
be submitted to PAGCOR annually.
29 
b) Return to Player (RTP) Metrics- Online gambling platforms shall clearly display
30 
the theoretical RTP percentage for each game offered. The RTP percentage
31 
shall be prominently accessible to players prior to and during gameplay.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
PAGCOR shall establish minimum RTP standards for various game categories 
to ensure fair payout structures over the long term, 
c) Audits and Compliance- PAGCOR shall conduct regular audits and may require 
independent third-party verification of RNG and RTP compliance to ensure 
adherence to the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and 
regulations.
III. MARKETING AND ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS
SEC. 15. Ban on Public Space Advertising. - All forms of online gambling 
advertising in public spaces, including but not limited to billboards, transit ads, building 
wraps, posters, LED screens, and other out-of-home or street-level media, are strictly 
prohibited. For purposes of this Act, "public spaces" shall include all privately-owned 
spaces that are open to the general public like malls, transportation services, cinemas, 
restaurants and bars.
SEC. 16. Prohibited Media Channels. - Advertising or promotional content 
for online gambling services shall not be allowed in traditional tri-media channels, 
including television, radio, and print publications, nor in digital media platforms such 
as social media, video streaming platforms, websites, mobile apps, or other internet- 
based communication channels accessible to the general public.
SEC. 17. Responsible Gambling Messaging. - All permissible 
advertisements must contain clearly visible warnings on the risks of gambling, as well 
as helpline information for problem gambling support services, as prescribed by 
PAGCOR.
SEC 18. Sponsorships and donations. - Sponsorships shall be absolutely 
prohibited in any educational, sport, concert, cultural, religious or art event. 
Sponsorships shall also be prohibited during public events. Online gambling operators 
may sponsor community activities as part of its corporate social responsibility but any 
merchandise or donations distributed during the event shall not contain the name of 
the company or indicate any gambling activities.
IV. "SIN TAX" ON ONLINE GAMBLING


1
2 
SEC. 19. Harm Mitigation Levy. - To finance the social costs of online
3 
gambling and finance programs aimed at minimizing its harmful effects, a Harm
4 
Mitigation Levy equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the gross revenues of all licensed
5 
online gambling operators shall be imposed and collected.
6 
The Harm Mitigation Levy shall be collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue
7 
(BIR) and deposited into a Special Gambling Harm Reduction Fund, which shall be
8 
administered by the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with PAGCOR, the
9 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Finance
10 
(DOF).
11 
The Fund shall be allocated as follows:
12 
a) Forty percent (40%) - for the establishment and operation of comprehensive,
13 
evidence-based treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation centers and services
14 
for individuals with gambling disorders across the Philippines, including
15 
integrated units within existing mental health institutions and community-based
16 
health programs;
17 
b) Thirty percent (30%) - for sustained public education and awareness
18 
campaigns on the risks of gambling, digital literacy for online safety, and
19 
promotion of responsible gaming behaviors, to be implemented by the DOH,
20 
DepEd, and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO);
21 
c) Twenty percent (20%) - for monitoring, compliance enforcement, and
22 
regulatory capacity-building programs of PAGCOR and other concerned
23 
agencies, including the development and oversight of proactive monitoring
24 
systems, affordability check frameworks, and the National Self-Exclusion
25 
Registry; and
26 
d) Ten percent (10%) - for independent research, data collection, and policy
27 
evaluation on the public health and social impacts of gambling, including the
28 
effectiveness of duty of care measures and interventions, and for the
29 
development and implementation of training programs for healthcare
30 
professionals, social workers, and counselors to improve gambling addiction
31 
diagnosis and treatment.


1 
All disbursements from the Fund shall be subject to existing auditing and
2 
accountability laws and shall be reported annually to Congress by the DOH and
3 
PAGCOR, with full transparency and public disclosure requirements. Failure to pay the
4 
Harm Mitigation Levy shall constitute a ground for license suspension or revocation,
5 
in addition to applicable fines, surcharges, and penalties under the National Internal
6 
Revenue Code, as amended.
7
8 
V. PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO GAMBLING DISORDER
9
10 
SEC. 20. Public health interventions to gambling disorders. -
11 
Recognizing that gambling disorder is a public health issue requiring comprehensive
12 
medical, psychological, and social intervention, the State shall ensure the availability
13 
and accessibility of effective treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals
14 
affected by gambling addiction. The interventions, funding for which will be sourced
15 
from 40% of the Harm Mitigation Levy as discussed in Section 14, shall include the
16 
following;
17 
a) Establishment of Gambling Addiction Treatment Services. The Department of
18 
Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
19 
Development (DSWD), shall establish and accredit specialized treatment and
20 
rehabilitation centers for gambling addiction, either as standalone facilities or
21 
as integrated units within existing mental health institutions and community-
22 
based health programs. These centers shall provide the following services, in
23 
accordance with international best practices:
24 
i. Clinical assessment and diagnosis of gambling disorder based on DSM-5
25 
or ICD-11 criteria;
26 
ii. Evidence-based treatment options, including Cognitive Behavioral
27 
Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and structured relapse
28 
prevention programs;
29 
iii. Individual and group counseling, family therapy, and financial recovery
30 
planning;
31 
iv. Peer support systems and recovery networks modeled after global self-
32 
help groups such as Gamblers Anonymous; and
10


1 
V. Referral pathways at the regional level for co-occurring mental health or
2 
substance use disorders.
3 
b) Community-Based Programs and Hotline Services. The DOH and DSWD shall
4 
also develop community-based interventions, including:
5 
i. 
Mobile mental health teams trained in gambling-related harm;
6 
ii. 
Publicly accessible 24/7 helplines, text lines, and chat services for
7 
individuals and families in crisis;
8 
iii. Outreach and education sessions in schools, barangays, and workplaces
9 
on recognizing signs of problem gambling and accessing care.
10 
c) Capacity-Building and Accreditation. The DOH shall develop training programs
11 
and guidelines for the accreditation of treatment providers, ensuring that
12 
healthcare professionals, social workers, and counselors are equipped with the
13 
skills and ethical standards required for the treatment of gambling disorder
14 
d) Inclusion in National Health Programs. Gambling disorder treatment shall be
15 
integrated into the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth)
16 
benefit packages as a covered mental health condition under the Universal
17 
Health Care Act. The DOH shall also ensure the inclusion of gambling disorder
18 
in the National Mental Health Program;
19 
e) Monitoring and Evaluation. PAGCOR and DOH shall jointly establish a
20 
monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of
21 
rehabilitation services, using internationally accepted indicators on treatment
22 
uptake, retention, relapse rates, and patient satisfaction. Annual data and
23 
research findings shall be publicly reported and used to improve program
24 
design.
25 
In formulating the interventions under this Section, an advisory shall also be
26 
created composed of relevant stakeholders like medical associations, non-government
27 
organizations, and patients' rights networks, to ensure updated, evidence-based,
28 
rights-based and victim centered interventions and effective service delivery.
29 
No person undergoing or having undergone treatment or rehabilitation for
30 
gambling disorder shall be subjected to any form of stigma, discrimination, or denial
31 
of rights in employment, education, access to services, or any other area of public life
32 
solely on the basis of their gambling-related condition.
11


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
For purposes of this Act, gambling disorder shall be recognized as a mental 
health condition covered under Republic Act No. 11036, or the "Mental Health Act," 
and persons affected shall be entitled to dignity, confidentiality, and protection from 
all forms of abuse and marginalization.
V. ONLINE GAMBLING AND PUBLIC OFFICERS
SEC. 21. Ban on government officials and empioyees/ and members of 
the uniformed services. - Government officials and employees, whether in the 
national government and in local government, including job-order employees, as well 
as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the Army, Navy, Air 
Force or the Philippine National Police, are prohibited from engaging in online 
gambling activities. Violation of this provision shall be considered misconduct and shall 
be grounds for administrative liability.
SEC. 22. Ban on campaign contribution by online gambling operators.
- No contribution for purposes of partisan political activity shall be made directly or 
indirectly by any online gambling operator. For this purpose, the term "contribution" 
includes a gift, donation, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything 
of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to contribute, whether or not legally 
enforceable, made for the purpose of influencing the results of the elections.
VI. PENALTIES
SEC. 23. Penalties. - Without prejudice to prosecution under other existing 
laws, the persons below shall be penalized as follows:
a) Any person, natural or juridical, who facilitates online gambling in any online 
gambling platform without the necessary licenses issued by the regulatory 
authorities mentioned under Section 4 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) years not more than eight (8) years and 
a fine of not less than Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00).
b) Any online gambling operator which violates the provisions of Chapter I on 
Access Restrictions shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Five
12


1 
Hundred Thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for the first offense; a fine of not less
2 
than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and suspension of operation for thirty
3 
(30) to ninety (90) calendar days for the second offense; and a fine of not less
4 
than Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) and permanent deactivation of the
5 
platform and revocation of the license of the operator.
6 
c) Any electronic wallet and/or super app which violates Section 5 of this Act shall
7 
suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00)
8 
and revocation of its electronic money issuer license and any other applicable
9 
registration, license, or permit to operate.
10 
d) Any online gambling operator which violates the provisions of Chapter II on
11 
Enhanced Duty of Care and Player Protection shall suffer a fine of not less than
12 
Five Hundred Thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for the first offense; a fine of not
13 
less than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and suspension of operation for
14 
thirty (30) to ninety (90) calendar days for the second offense; and a fine of
15 
not less than Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) and permanent deactivation of
16 
the platform and revocation of the license of the operator.
17 
e) Any person, natural or juridical, who violates the provisions of Chapter III on
18 
Marketing and Advertising Restrictions shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not
19 
less than Five Hundred Thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for the first offense; a
20 
fine of not less than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and for the online
21 
gambling operator, suspension of operation for thirty (30) to ninety (90)
22 
calendar days for the second offense; and a fine of not less than Five Million
23 
Pesos (P5,000,000.00) and for the online gambling operator, permanent
24 
deactivation of the platform and revocation of the license to operate.
25 
f) Any other violation of this Act by an online gambling operator shall suffer the
26 
penalty of a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00)
27 
for the first offense; a fine of not less than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00)
28 
for the second offense; and a fine of not less than Five Million Pesos
29 
(P5,000,000.00).
30 
g) Any official or employee of the government authority charged with ensuring
31 
compliance of the provisions of this Act who knowingly allows the commission
32 
of the offenses in this Act, regardless of material consideration, shall be
13


1 
imprisoned for a period of one (1) month to six (6) months. He/she shall be
2 
dismissed from service and shall be permanently disqualified from holding any
3 
elective or appointive public service.
4 
If the offender is a juridical person, the persons liable shall be the responsible
5 
officers thereof.
6 
If the offender is a public officer or employee, or a professional, he/she shall
7 
also be administratively liable.
8 
SEC. 24. Implementing rules and regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
9 
from the effectivity of this Act, PAGCOR and BSP, in consultation with AMLC, the
10 
Department of Information and Communications Technology special economic zone
11 
authorities, TIEZA, freeport authorities, or any investment promotion agency, shall
12 
issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the effective implementation of this
13 
Act: Provided , That the absence of the Implementing Rules and Regulations within
14 
the specified period shall not prevent the automatic implementation and execution of
15 
the specific provisions of this Act.
16 
SEC. 25. Data privacy. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending
17 
or abridging Republic Act No. 11073, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Data processing
18 
activities undertaken by online gambling operators in accordance with Chapter II of
19 
this Act shall be obtain express prior consent from data subjects, strictly comply with
20 
the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality as enshrined in
21 
Republic Act No. 11073, and ensure that the rights of data subjects are fully protected.
22 
Furthermore, online gambling applications, platforms, or services shall be strictly
23 
prohibited from gathering, buying, selling, or otherwise dealing in personal data or
24 
meta-data of their users for any marketing, advertising, or commercial profiling
25 
purposes without user consent.
26 
SEC. 26. Registration with the Anti-Money Laundering Council
27 
(AMLC). - Online Online gambling operators shall be considered a "Covered Person"
28 
under Republic Act No. 9160, as amended. They shall be required to register with the
29 
AMLC within thirty (30) calendar days from the actual date of commencement of their
30 
operations; Provided, that online gambling operators duly licensed by regulatory
31 
authorities upon the effectivity of this Act shall register with the AMLC within thirty
32 
(30) days from the effectivity of this Act.
14


1 
SEC. 27. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
2 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
3 
shall remain valid.
4 
SEC. 28. Repealing Clause. - All acts, executive orders, administrative
5 
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any of
6 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
7 
SEC. 29. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
8 
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.
15