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March 21, 2009 - Philippines Consider Prohibiting Online Gambling

The fact that there are presently no regulations on the Internet concerning gambling in the Philippines has prompted a lawmaker there to file legislation to prohibit online gambling.

The absence of regulations has resulted in Representative Narciso Santiago from the Alliance for Rural Concerns party, filing a proposal for restricting internet gambling (Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, also known as House Bill 5613).

A steep fine of just over four thousand dollars together with a maximum penalty of four years in prison will be imposed on anyone found to be gambling online.

Santiago stated that "With prizes of computers, vacation trips, cars and cash being awarded as prizes on online gambling sites many minors who surf the sites of the web can possibly be enticed to gamble". He added further that "one can never know if the gambling site is legitimate or a scam in order to extract money out of the victim".

Should the proposed legislation come into effect it will make it illegal for any citizens who are involved in a gambling business to place or receive a bet by using the Internet or any other interactive computer service. Sending, receiving or inviting information assisting in the placing of a wager would also be illegal.

However, the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office lottery is exempt from the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act and any lawful bet placed, received or made wholly interstate for this purpose is allowed on condition that it is authorized, licensed or regulated and placed by a person located at a facility that is open to the public using a private network.

Any lawful wagers placed on live horseracing, as long as these are authorized, licensed or regulated alongside wagers made for fantasy sports league games, are also exempt from the proposed legislation.

 

 

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