Philippine Gambling Acts are meant to govern sportsbooks and protect bettors. As such, there have been amendments and improvements to the 1975 Presidential Decree No. 1067 to achieve this goal. Here are some important Acts and laws that affect the Filipino punters and the entire betting industry in the Philippines.
The 1975 Presidential Decree No.1067
This Act, which was enacted in 1975, created PAGCOR, whose responsibilities have already been mentioned in this post. The law defines what legal gambling in the Philippines is, and it sets out the functions and powers of PAGCOR. Also explained in the Act is how PAGCOR collects and uses revenue from the gambling industry in the country.
The 1978 Presidential Decree No. 1602
This law defines what punishments gambling lawbreakers in the country face. The first section of this law lists all the legal gambling activities in the Philippines, including betting on horse racing, volleyball, football, soccer, pinball, boxing, and basketball.
According to this Act, operating an unlicensed betting platform and betting at one is punishable by fine and imprisonment. Those who inform the authorities of any illegal gambling activities in the country are rewarded.
The 1983 Presidential Decree No. 1869
This is PAGCOR's charter that outlines proper regulation of the Filipino gambling industry. It spells out all the guidelines that PAGCOR follows in authorizing, licensing, and regulating all chance games in the country. Additionally, this decree outlines the legal framework bookmakers follow in obtaining a gambling license.
The 1994 Republic Act 7922
This is the Act under which the so-called Cagayan Economic Zone is founded. This economic zone is located in Cagayan Valley, and it includes the neighboring islands and the Freeport city. This Act contains all the Cagayan Economic Zone's legal information, including legal counsels, auditing, supervision, and compensation.
The Executive Order No. 13
This was enacted in 2017, and it categorically explains what constitutes illegal gambling activity is (gambling not licensed by a reputable body). This law also prohibits Filipino punters from accessing locally owned sportsbooks in the country.
The 2017 Republic Act 10927
This law requires all gambling operators in the country to put in place risk management strategies to prevent Filipinos from the dangers of gambling.