Local Legislator Challenges the Freedom of Operations of Online Gaming Sites in the Philippines

In the Philippines Cagayan province, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Cagayan Export Zone (CEZ), online website operators have the legal rights to operate or to directly own, or to indirectly own, or to operate through a third party, any tourism related activities. This works for them since the legislation includes gambling casinos. This is to be operated under the priorities and standards that are set up set by the Cagayan Export Zone Agency.  This legislation makes Cagayan based Port Irene the only free port where it is legally permitted to host and to run online gambling businesses and also allows for the licensing of offshore companies.

Reports recently emanating from Manila however, say that some of those living in the country want all online gambling to be banned.

With this in mind, representative Narciso Santiago of the Alliance for Rural Concerns Party has just proposed a bill that would make it illegal for any individual maintaining a gambling operation to utilize the Internet as well as any other interactive computer service, in order to place, attain, or otherwise make a bet or wager. The bill would also forbid the sending or receiving or inviting of information that might assist in the placing of a bet or wager. At the same time however, the proposed law would not apply to bets placed on live horse races when such wagers are licensed, authorized, and are also regulated by applicable laws. If, as in the case of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office lotto, the bets are considered to be totally legal, they are also exempt.  The ban would also not apply to lawful bets that are made on fantasy sports league games.

In a statement that she made in reference to young people using the internet, Santiago said that as minors are surfing various gambling web sites, there exists the possibility that children will be enticed into gambling and that this probability is high because of the tempting prizes that are awarded, such as vacation trips, computers, cars and even cash. 

There are heavy penalties that are to be attached to the new law. If an individual is found to have violated the law he or she could be fined an amount that is equivalent to the amount that has been received as bets, or face imprisonment for four years, or both.

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