PH senator wants to ban gambling-related online content

Senator Robinhood Padilla has introduced legislation that would make it illegal to publish anything online that praises or encourages gambling. Padilla stressed in a statement released on Thursday the need to limit the exposure of the general public, particularly youth, to gambling.

Padilla expressed worries about the increasing visibility of information related to online gambling on several social media sites. He voiced concern about the possible negative effects of gambling, such as addiction, criminality, and societal issues that erode the moral foundation of the nation.

With the passage of Senate Bill No. 2602, the Department of Justice (DOJ) would have the authority to apply limitations known as disabling orders, which would restrict or completely prohibit access to any online gambling material. Compliance monitoring will be overseen by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission.

Service providers would have to comply with disabling orders within 48 hours of the issue arising. Anyone discovered posting or promoting gambling-related information online faces a maximum fine of PHP500,000 and a maximum one-year prison sentence. If the criminal is associated with an online gambling service or receives compensation for uploading such content, they might spend up to three years in prison and pay a fine of PHP 500,000.

Padilla’s colleague, Senator Lito Lapid, has also taken steps to halt the expansion of internet gaming. Sen. Lapid’s Senate Resolution No. 963 seeks to combat teenage corruption by looking into gaming platforms and activity regulation. Lapid plans to investigate internet platforms including Facebook, X, and Tiktok, as well as payment systems like GCash and Maya, to ensure they do not promote illicit online gambling.

Original story by: PNA