Philippines considering online gambling prohibition

Representative Narciso Santiago from the Alliance For Rural Concerns party filed House Bill 5613, also known as the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, stating that “at present, there are no regulations on the Internet concerning gambling.”

“As minors traverse the sites of the web, the possibility of kids being enticed to gamble is high because of the tempting prizes that are awarded like vacation trips, computers, cars and even cash,” said Santiago. ”One can never know if the gambling site is just a scam to milk money out of the victim.”

The proposed legislation would make it illegal for citizens engaged in a gambling business to use the Internet or any other interactive computer service to place or receive a bet. In addition, the prohibition would make it illegal to send, receive or invite information assisting in the placing of a wager.

However, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act does not apply to any lawful bet placed, received or made wholly intrastate for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office lottery as long as it is authorized, licensed or regulated and placed by a person located at a facility open to the public using a private network. In addition, the proposed legislation would not apply to lawful wagers placed on live horseracing as long as these were authorized, licensed or regulated alongside wagers made for a fantasy sports league games.