Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a legislative measure aimed at discouraging the youth to participate in risky betting activities by penalizing the publication and promotion of gambling-related content online and on social media.
“Considering the evolving landscape of social media platforms, this representation has been apprised of the availability of online user-generated content relating to gambling that demonstrates, promotes and provides instructions on betting or staking to the general public,” he said of Senate Bill (SB) 2602.
Padilla expressed his strong opposition to gambling, which has been linked to addiction, criminal activities, and even social issues “that destroy the moral fiber of our nation.”
“In this regard, this representation proposes the prohibition of online publication of materials that instruct or demonstrate gambling, commentaries and advertisements that promote awareness of gambling activities,” he added.
Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, noted his bill aims to “lessen, if not all eliminate, the exposure and impact of gambling to the general public, especially the youth.”
SB 2602 involves at least three executive agencies namely the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Under Padilla’s proposal, the DOJ shall issue a disabling order to restrict or block access to online content promoting gambling, with notice to the DICT and NTC to monitor compliance. Service providers must comply with the disabling orders within 48 hours of the issuance of the orders.
Violators to this legislation shall be imposed a fine of up to P500,000 on top of a one-year imprisonment. If the offender linked the prohibited content to an online gambling site or received commissions from publishing the content, he or she faces up to three years in jail and a P500,000 fine.