QuestionsQuestions (Acts No. 4240)
Acts No. 4240 aims to revise, amend, and consolidate existing laws governing horse races; limit horse races to certain special dates; prohibit persons other than those conducting authorized horse races from maintaining or using a totalizer or system of betting/gambling; provide penalties for violations; and other related purposes.
Acts No. 1537, 1599, 1804, and 3923 are repealed, with the provisions of Acts No. 4240 promulgated in lieu thereof.
Any person or body of persons other than the person or body duly licensed to hold horse races is prohibited from offering, taking, or arranging bets, or from maintaining or using a totalizer or other betting/gambling device, method, or system.
Betting is allowed only on: (1) the first Sunday of each month; (2) legal holidays; and (3) all Sundays in the month of February.
That race-holder may select the specific Sunday of the month on which to hold the horse races authorized by the Act for the first Sunday of each month.
Section 3 clarifies that the Act does not bar offering and payment of prizes or gifts to victors at times other than the stated dates, provided these are not attended by betting or the use of totalizers or other devices for winning money.
The Act primarily prohibits betting/totalizer use and limits horse races to certain dates. However, Section 3 allows prizes/gifts without betting or totalizer devices even outside those dates; thus, if there is no betting/totalizer device for winning money, the Act’s strict betting prohibition is not triggered for prizes—though the race-holding date limitations remain relevant.
Horse races shall not be held on Thursday or Friday of Holy Week.
Races may be held on the Sunday next preceding and on the Sunday next following those days, respectively.
If the Sunday next preceding or following is already a day on which races are permitted under the Act—or if two official holidays coincide on the same day—races may be held on the first Sunday thereafter that is not a day when horse races may be held legally.
Horse races shall not be held on May 30 (Memorial Day) nor on December 30 (Rizal Day).
Races may be held on the Sunday next preceding May 30 or December 30, respectively.
If the Sunday next preceding May 30 or December 30 is a permitted race day, races may be held on the Sunday next following that date, which is not a legal day for horse races, and this exception is for charitable purposes.
If charitable-purpose dates coincide with the race course’s entitled dates, the race course may hold races on the first Sunday thereafter that is not a legal day for horse races.
Each of the races held on the occasion and at the place concerned constitutes a separate offense; the president, directors, managers, and every person who committed the offense are considered as principals.
A convicted person may be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand pesos or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, in the discretion of the court.
It takes effect on its approval.