Philippines Senator files bill to prohibit and penalise online gambling

The Philippines’ Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has filed a bill seeking to ban online gambling in the country

The Philippines’ Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has filed a visor seeking to ban online play in the country.

Per Villanueva’s request, online gaming activities such as e-sabong (online cockfighting) and seaward gaming testament follow banned and penalised should people follow caught either organising or participating in such activities online.

The bill, titled the Anti-Online Gambling Act or Senate Bill 1281, has been introduced to heel counter what Villanueva claims are the "severe" consequences of gambling.

Villaneuva cited examples of the so-called dangers of gambling, including the typesetter's case of a 19-year-old educatee inward Davao de Oro who was arrested for being unable to pay off P500,000 ($8,681) inward bet money. The offspring piece lost the money patch gambling on e-sabong.

Villanueva said: "The bank note seeks to prohibit online gambling and the placing of wagers or bets through the cyberspace or any take form of online gaming activities to preclude farther deterioration of morals and values, encourage people to process instead of relying on a game of chance, kibosh dependance and pull through lives."

"These circumstances also present that the societal be of gambling is too luxuriously — bankruptcy, humbled families and felon activities, [occur as a result].”

Under the proposals submitted by the Senator, any person who places, receives, or transmits and play or wager shall follow imprisoned for a time 'tween ane and VI months patch facing of a mulct of 'tween P100,000 and P500,000.

Villaneuva also claimed his banker's bill would combat the growing of Filipino Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which hold been illegally operating inward the country’s online domain.

Villaneuva added: "[The climb up in POGOs] has resulted inwards rising criminality, including prostitution, and increased threat of money laundering, among others."